Safety

HHS to distribute children’s dosage of KI

Emergency Management Alert, March 22, 2005

The Department of Health and Human Services plan to purchase 1.7 million pediatric doses of liquid potassium iodide (KI) to use in the event of a release of radioactive iodine, a material produced in commercial nuclear power facilities.

HHS awarded $5.7 million this week to Fleming & Company to manufacture and deliver the KI. This will mark the first liquid KI developed for children with a specific black raspberry flavor. Adult KI doses come in tablet form.

"The acquisition of this new and easy-to-administer pediatric KI formulation is an important step forward for our nation's radiological preparedness program," Assistant Secretary for Public Health Emergency Preparedness Stewart Simonson said.

After human exposure to radioactive iodine, which could occur in the vicinity of a nuclear commercial power facility, the thyroid gland quickly absorbs any iodine in the body. KI prevents the thyroid from absorbing radioactive iodine.

HHS is currently working on plans to distribute the new product in communities near commercial nuclear power plants.

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