Swine flu information program too costly, health district officials decide

The Snohomish Health District was offered up to $220,000 in federal money for a program to inform the public about swine flu, but decided that cost too much.

Instead, board members Tuesday decided to approve $150,000 for the plan and renegotiate the contract with GMMB, a Seattle-based communication firm that submitted a proposal to do the work.

The money comes from a federal grant fund to battle swine flu, which has helped state and county health districts across the nation pay for wide-ranging swine-flu expenses.

Through the end of January, the Snohomish Health District has received $925,162 in federal funds for programs to battle swine flu, also known as H1N1.

The health district has used these funds in part to pay the costs of organizing two mass vaccination clinics last fall that provided the vaccine to nearly 26,000 children and adults; to help compensate health district employees for time they spent responding to the epidemic; and for upgrades to its computer and technology systems.

This was the first time the Snohomish Health District had requested funds for a communication program for swine flu.

Although last year’s swine flu surge of the spring and fall has ended, health district officials said the communication program could be used to improve the health agency’s overall outreach with the public.

Last year, the state Department of Health spent about $850,000 on advertising, communication and public education costs involving swine flu, said Tim Church, a spokesman for the state agency.

The state agency worked with GMMB to help inform the public about the virus, Church said. This included a television commercial developed by GMMB that showed a slow-motion backward sneeze. The goal was to emphasize the importance of basic steps that could be taken to stop the spread of swine flu, such as urging people to cover their coughs.

The state Department of Health has another contract with GMMB this year to update messages about swine flu, Church said.

Public health agencies across the state have received federal money for programs to battle swine flu, and many have used some of it for communication, Church said.

The GMMB contract with the Snohomish Health District was a no-bid contract because the firm is already working with the state Department of Health, said Tim McDonald, who leads the local health agency’s communicable disease division.

Labor costs at GMMB range from $76.50 an hour for assistant account executives to $304.59 an hour for a partner, according to a document the agency sent the health district outlining its proposal.

One of the goals of the contract is to find ways to improve communication with groups such as young adults, ethnic and low-income communities, McDonald said.

“It is a lot of money; there’s no doubt about it,” McDonald said of the contract, but added, “It’s extremely important work.”

The money must be spent by July 30. Board member Patsy Cudaback, a Monroe City Council member, asked if other firms could be asked to bid on the project. Because of the relatively short timetable, there would not be time to put out a formal request for other firms to bid on the proposal, health district officials said.

Jim Smith, another board member who is on the Lynnwood City Council, said he was hesitant to spend $220,000 on the program. “I’m concerned we’re spending the money just because we have the money,” he said.

Mark Lamb, mayor of Bothell, said he felt $220,000 for a communication program “is excessive.”

Lamb suggested, and the board ultimately approved, a contract not to exceed $150,000.

“I think we can get good value and good strategic advice for less money,” Lamb said. “If they want to turn down $150,000, they can make that decision.”

Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486 or salyer@heraldnet.com.

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