Antiviral Drug Stockpiling in Preparation for an Influenza Pandemic

SIFMA provides comments to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Draft Guidance to Assist in the Preparation for an Influenza Pandemic, particularly the Proposed Considerations for Antiviral Drug Stockpiling by Employers in Preparation for an Influenza Pandemic.  SIFMA agrees that as a part of the country’s critical infrastructure, securities firms must plan for a pandemic as part of overall business continuity planning.  SIFMA urges HHS and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) to emphasize that the decision to stockpile antiviral medications should be at the sole discretion of the employer, but that special attention should be paid to the liability behind how firms disperse prescription drugs.