9/4/09: On August 31, 2009, NTEU participated in a conference call with OPM director John Berry, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Center for Disease Control. HHS detailed the causes of the H1N1 virus and described the ability of the virus to spread quickly throughout a population. However, HHS did not provide specific guidelines for protecting the federal workforce from contracting the H1N1 virus.

Representatives from the Center for Disease Control indicated that the federal government has purchased a limited number of vaccinations. CDC indicated that vaccines will be administered on a priority basis depending upon who has proved to be most susceptible to the H1N1 virus. CDC indicated that healthcare workers, children from six months of age to 24 years of age, caretakers of children six months of age and younger, adults with risk conditions (lung disease, obesity, asthma), and pregnant women are the most susceptible to the virus and would most likely be the first to be provided with vaccines.

During the conference call, NTEU raised a concern with regards to the lack of a systematic approach to deal with the possible high number of absences federal agencies may experience if, for example, school closures force a large number of employees to stay at home. Furthermore, NTEU pressed OPM to encourage federal agencies to utilize and expand the use of telework arrangements and flexible leave policies to accommodate the needs of its employees during the upcoming flu season. A follow-up meeting is currently scheduled for September 15, from 10-12 p.m., in Washington, D.C., and the agency has indicated that it will respond to these concerns at that time.

NTEU will be monitoring the situation closely.