We've had a pandemic plan of sorts in place since 1988, but that was after the third pandemic of the 20th century. In effect, this was the first time we actually were able to test the plan and the framework. I think we learned a lot. I definitely see that in the future, unless we have an unlimited supply of a vaccine that's good against all influenza strains, or we can vaccinate everyone and have the health care resources to do that, we're going to have to have a framework to at least identify, based on the epidemiology, who should be targeted first.
On October 2nd, 2012. See this statement in context.