VZCZCXRO7041
RR RUEHSL
DE RUEHSL #0420 2721548
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 291548Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY BRATISLAVA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0184
INFO RUEHSL/AMEMBASSY BRATISLAVA 0220 UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000420 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR OES/IHB JONES AND IO/HS BLACKWOOD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS:          
SUBJECT: SLOVAKIA PREOCCUPIED WITH INTERNAL H1N1 PREPARATIONS (133 
CASES, NO DEATHS) 
 
REF: A. STATE 99707 
      B. BRATISLAVA 395 
 
 1. Ref A points were delivered to Sarka Kovacsova at the Public 
Health Authority (PHA) Department of International Relations and 
Dr. Adriana Liptakova, Chief State Counselor and the Director of 
the Health Care Department at the Ministry of Health.  GOS 
officials view the President's September 17 announcement on a 
coordinated H1N1 international response positively.  However, 
given budget and other fiscal constraints, GOS officials are not 
prepared to make donations to the effort at this time.  To date, 
the PHA reports 133 confirmed cases of H1N1 and no deaths. 
 
 2. Rather than consider the Slovak contribution to an 
international effort, health officials appear more focused on 
internal press criticism suggesting the GOS has not secured 
enough vaccinations for its own citizenry quickly enough (ref 
B).  Citing a World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation 
that countries have vaccine doses covering 20 percent of their 
population, the Slovak State Material Reserves Administration 
(SSHR) is working toward a vaccine stockpile of one million 
doses, including 700,000 packages of Tamiflu and 1,000 packages 
of Tamiflu Dry Syrup targeted for first responders and 
vulnerable populations.  GOS officials have been particularly 
sensitive to reports of higher vaccine per capita stockpiles in 
neighboring countries, including the Czech Republic. 
 
EDDINS