RE: Prophylactic use of KI in Japan

["Thompson, Donald L." <DLT@CDRH.FDA.GOV>]

KI usage - why not?

Two of the reasons KI is not stockpiled are that it is not cost-effective
and that it is logistically very difficult to distribute the drug.  The
first yields somewhat to the fact that KI is also not expensive, the second
is a more robust argument.  Alabama's program to distribute at sites along
the evacuation route (after the recipient signs a waiver of liability) was
the best I've read of, though not totally satisfactory. There are other
reasons not to distribute, but I'd rather let their advocates present them. 

	-----Original Message-----
	From:	Kirtland Sarah [SMTP:KirtlandS@oki10.med.navy.mil]
	Sent:	Thursday, October 07, 1999 7:31 PM
	To:	Multiple recipients of list
	Subject:	RE: Prophylactic use of KI in Japan

	I would like to know the answer as well.  It's a very good question.
It
	reminds me of something I read recently -that in the US, five/fifty
states
	have included stockpiles of KI in their disaster response plans.)
It makes
	me wonder why only five - 
		a.  KI isn't expensive, do they (disaster planners) expect
to buy
	what they need from a pharmaceutical company when a disaster happens
	(assuming companies would have a large enough supply), or 
		b.  do the people responding to disaster not believe that KI
will
	help prevent future health problems, or 
		c.  did the disaster responders have some evidence that the
airborne
	levels would not be harmful 
		d. was there a conscious decision not to administer KI; was
it even
	considered?

	-----Original Message-----
	From: Martin Fraser [mailto:mfraser@channel1.com]
	Sent: Thursday, October 07, 1999 11:45 PM
	To: Multiple recipients of list
	Subject: Re: Prophylactic use of KI in Japan


	Sorry to repeat this request but I didn't hear back after a previous
query: 

	Does anyone know whether Potassium Iodide was stockpiled and/or
distributed
	at the site of the recent criticality event in Japan?

	Thanks

	Martin Fraser
	
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