Minutes: Domestic Policy Council, Economic Policy Council

Photocopied at the Roald Reagan Libr
-3 -Mr. Roper introduced Mr. Macdonald, who expressed some optimism
about research on AIDS. He reported on the demographics of AIDS
cases across the country. Every state has had at least one case,
with concentration in New York, New Jersey, Florida, Texas, and
California. He noted calls by state and local authorities for
Federal assistance in the costs of AIDS treatment programs. He
cited progress made in understanding the effects of the disease,
in developing antibody tests, and in checking the blood supply.
He explained the current plans to continue research on solutions
to AIDS, e.g. vaccines and drugs, and on AIDS treatment, saying
that within some months there should be tests in humans of both a
vaccine and anti-viral treatment agents. He said that the research effort connected with AIDS is so large that in the future
people might look back on this AIDS research effort and compare
it to the Manhattan Project or the Apollo Moon Program.
Mr. Macdonald emphasized the fact that the spread of AIDS has
been through the high risk groups, and, despite earlier fears,
there has not been a sizable problem of spread through
heterosexual contact. He said that future AIDS issues are costs,
cofactors, and controversies. The costs of AIDS will certainly
grow and there will be further calls for Federal financing of
AIDS patient costs. To better understand why some patients who
are infected with the AIDS virus develop the clinical disease but
most do not, research is underway to determine whether agents
like marijuana or alcohol or stress might be serving as cofactors
to put some persons at additional risk. He said that controversy
would continue to be a major part of the AIDS issue, centering on
the questions of how strongly society should intervene to require
mandatory testing, and to restrain persons who may be infectious,
including the use of quarantines. He said that HHS will continue
its active role in information dissemination.
Mr. Mayer described the rationale for the Defense Department's
AIDS screening programs, including the need to immunize military
personnel, and the risks immunizations pose to someone without an
intact immune system. He also explained the potential need for
AIDS-free battlefield transfusions. Based on these and other
factors, the Department of Defense now screens all recruits and
excludes from the military any who show evidence of AIDS antibodies. Defense will also screen all active duty personnel.
Secretary Weinberger emphasized the concern over the effects of
immunizations on people, and thus the need to screen for AIDS.
A general discussion about AIDS followed, with the President
noting that several eminent medical scientists suggested that

individual responsibility for one's behavior is a key factor in
the struggle against AIDS. Mr. Regan asked whether other Federal
government agencies have AIDS screening programs, or whether
personnel assigned outside the United States should be screened
for AIDS, such as Peace Corps workers. Secretary Whitehead said
that the State Department has taken this into account in
assigning foreign service personnel. Mr. Bauer said that