Priorities urged for pandemic vaccine

WASHINGTON — Pregnant women, babies and toddlers would join doctors, emergency workers and soldiers at the head of the line for scarce vaccine if a superstrain of flu triggers the next pandemic, says a draft government plan to be released today.

Once more vaccine is available, older children along with workers who keep the electricity, water and phones running could be next to roll up their sleeves.

At the end of the line: the elderly and healthy younger adults.

It's a priority list quite different from the usual winter pleas for older Americans to get vaccinated against regular flu. And it reflects growing agreement that curbing a superflu would require protecting workers who care for the sick and maintain crucial services — plus targeting the people most likely to spread flu, not just die from it.

GOP leaders want to punish 5 states

Republican Party leaders Monday recommended punishing five states for shifting their nomination contests earlier, moving to strip New Hampshire, Florida, South Carolina, Michigan and Wyoming of half their delegates.

At least one state, South Carolina, is considering legal action to keep its delegates to next year's Republican National Convention.

Iowa, which plans to hold Republican caucuses Jan. 3, would not be penalized because, technically, the caucuses are not binding on convention delegates. Nevada, which plans to hold its caucuses Jan. 19, would not be penalized for the same reason.

"It's very important that our party uphold and enforce the rules that we unanimously voted into place at the Republican National Convention in 2004," said Mike Duncan, chairman of the Republican National Committee.

The rules ban holding votes before Feb. 5.

Wyoming is set to hold its nominating conventions Jan. 5. Michigan will hold its Republican primary Jan. 15, South Carolina Jan. 19 and Florida Jan. 29.

New Hampshire has not yet set a primary date, though it is required by state law to hold its primary at least seven days before any other, raising the possibility of a December vote.

Home test kits for lead faulted

Consumers should not use home test kits to detect lead in paint and other products because nearly half of those sampled gave inaccurate readings, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said Monday.

The safety agency said it analyzed 104 lead test results and found 56 gave false negative results while two gave false positives.

"None of the kits consistently detected lead in products if the lead was covered with a nonleaded coating," the agency said.

Millions of Chinese-made toys have been recalled this year because they contain high levels of lead. Such levels have been linked to brain damage in children.

$500M sought for Mexico in drug war

The White House announced Monday that it's requesting $500 million to help Mexico fight drug gangs — the first installment of a multiyear program that would total an estimated $1.4 billion in U.S. aid.

Administration officials said the package includes a large security component that Mexico would fund. In addition, the White House announced it had requested $50 million to fight drug-related violence in Central America.

"The United States will do all it can to support Mexico's efforts to break the power and impunity of drug organizations," the White House said.

Mexican President Felipe Calderón has made tackling drug-fueled violence a priority and has deployed troops in an attempt to stop violence.

Also

Fence: Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff on Monday invoked his power to bypass certain laws to restart construction of a fence on the Arizona-Mexico border.

Stepping down: Drug Enforcement Administration chief Karen Tandy said Monday she is resigning, ending her four-year tenure as the first woman to hold that post.

Seattle Times news services