Details of the Bush administration plan for dealing with a flu pandemic are being released.

On Tuesday, the president requested $7.1 billion to fund his three-part preparation strategy for a flu pandemic, whether it's caused by the bird flu or some other strain.

The funding would go toward stockpiling vaccines and antiviral drugs; boosting vaccine production technology; putting in place an international bird flu surveillance program; and assisting state and local preparedness plans.

The federal plans say sustained person-to-person spread of bird flu or any other similar virus could prompt the United States to put travel restrictions in place.

States and cities would have to ration scarce medications. They would also have to have plans to determine which people need the quickest treatment to keep people from overwhelming hospitals.

The details being released Wednesday provide long-awaited guidance to local officials who need to coordinate with the federal response. The plans urge those officials to figure out now the steps they would need to take in a pandemic.

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Reaction To Bush's Plan Mixed

Of the funding that Bush requested, $538 million would go toward helping state and local governments create emergency plans for the bird flu.

Dr. Michael Lew, chief of infectious disease at Newton-Wellesley Hospital in Newton, Mass., isn't impressed with the amount, reported WCVB-TV in Boston.

"It doesn't sound like very much divided over 50 states," he said. "Right now, the health system is operating at full capacity. What do we do if we suddenly have double the number of patients we usually care for? Where will we put them? How will we care for them? Where will the personnel come from?"

The nonprofit group Trust for America's Health has the same reservations. In a statement, the group said the budget request does not adequately fund support for state and local health departments, surge capacity and risk communication.

"Requiring each state to purchase antivirals separately does not make sense from a health perspective," the statement said. "Germs don't respect jurisdictional boundaries, and we must have the flexibility to provide the medication where outbreaks are most severe."

The administration's plan to have states pay for any bird flu vaccine is also coming under fire on Capitol Hill.

Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, said it's a national concern that should be covered by the federal government. He also wondered how hurricane-battered states like Louisiana and Mississippi would be able to afford the cost.

Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt said forcing some of the cost on states is designed to make sure they are "buying in" to preparations for the pandemic.

Vaccines are at the core of the president's bird flu strategy -- $5 billion to stockpile vaccines and antiviral medication and develop newer, faster manufacturing of vaccines.

"It's a question of timing. We're way behind in terms of manufacturing," said Dr. Michael Callahan, of Massachusetts General Hospital's Division of Infectious Diseases.

"It's a lengthy process, and the reality is that the current vaccine could not be made or scaled up in this country probably for a year or two," said Dr. Jeffrey Gelfand, a vaccine expert at Massachusetts General Hospital.

The Infectious Diseases Society of America released a statement applauding Bush's measures, especially investments for new vaccine technologies and liability protections to incentives to lure new manufacturers into the vaccine and antimicrobial market.

"Although the president did not mention tax credits, we also support such incentives for research and manufacturing to motivate industry to produce new vaccines, antivirals, and antibiotics, particularly within U.S. borders," the statement said.

A statement from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America echoed the sentiment, emphasizing that liability reform is a critically important part of this plan.

"It's clear that the nation's liability system is broken," the statement said. "In 1988, there were 25 manufacturers of vaccines in the United States. Today, there are four companies that supply the U.S. market with flu vaccine."

The group said no medicine is risk-free.

"Companies should not be forced to balance the need of finding an effective vaccine for this potentially devastating pandemic against the certain knowledge that trial lawyers will pursue claims exploiting the inherent risks of vaccine development," the statement said.

Meanwhile, Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, and Rep. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, are joining forces in Washington to pressure the president to do more, reported WEWS-TV in Cleveland.

"There is more concern about the profits for the drug companies than the health of the American people," Kucinich said. "The government has to go to compulsory licensing."

The Association of Trial Lawyers of America said "companies who engage in gross negligence shouldn't get special protections."

"Sadly, we have seen some big drug companies put their bottom line before the health and safety of the public," the ATLA's statement said. "If President Bush were really interested in protecting the public's safety, he would not be calling for the elimination of important legal protections that hold negligent corporations accountable if they give people deadly vaccines."

Many States, Cities Have Plans In Place

Adi Pour, the health director for Douglas County, Neb., spent Tuesday going over the president's strategy for pandemic influenza. She said Omaha does have a plan in place, but that doesn't mean it is time for officials to sit back and wait, reported television station KETV in Omaha.

"In a large pandemic, we'll be overwhelmed. If anybody says they're ready -- they've planned for the worst -- they'll be surprised by it," Pour said.

The money from the president's proposal would allow Omaha to test its plan, but Pour said she's just grateful there's a plan in place. Many other cities don't have plans at all.

Pour emphasized that it is impossible to be completely ready for an outbreak.

Massachusetts Department of Public Health Commissioner Paul Cote said the commonwealth has been planning for a pandemic for the past decade.

"We're identifying what we would call alternative triage sites regionally across the commonwealth -- how many resources we need to add to them everything from beds to supplies to have them up and ready," Cote said.

They're also creating a database of medical personnel not affiliated with local hospitals who could step in and help out if a pandemic strikes.

The health commissioner of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, said officials are taking steps to put a plan in place by January.

"Given the preparedness, the work of the last few years with bioterrorism, we have a strong base," said Health Commissioner Terry Alan. "Are we ready? Not yet."

Cote stressed that although bird flu is getting a lot of attention, there is no need to panic. The best thing you can do to lessen the spread of any flu is to be diligent about washing your hands and covering your mouth when you sneeze or cough. And if you're sick, don't spread it -- stay home.