HHS Extends Legal Protections for H1N1 Treatment

WASHINGTON—Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius extended legal immunity to healthcare providers who administer the antiviral drugs Tamiflu and Relenza to treat patients for the 2009 H1N1 flu. The immunity is retroactive to April 26.

The Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act authorizes the secretary to grant such immunity during a declared public health emergency to ensure that the countermeasures are available and can be administered in the event of a pandemic. HHS previously granted the same protections to treat the H5N1 avian flu.