President Gerald Ford

February 1976: CDC Identifies Virus

• CDC identifies the virus as a novel H1N1 strain, similar to the 1918 pandemic virus
• The Ford administration (President Gerald Ford) is informed and briefed on potential risks
• Public health experts worry it could trigger a global pandemic

March 1976: US Government Response

• CDC and health officials call for a mass immunization campaign
• President Gerald Ford announces a plan to vaccinate all Americans
• Mar 24: President Ford publicly announces the "National Influenza Immunization Program (NIIP)", calling for vaccination of every American (approx. 213 million people).
• Congress quickly appropriates funds ($135 million) for vaccine production and distribution