Originally published January 20 2006
New legislation would offer drug companies wide protection against lawsuits to promote vaccine manufacturing
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn, is the chief supporter of new legislation that would protect vaccine makers against lawsuits.
Flu vaccine makers would be shielded from lawsuits under sweeping language Senate Republicans hope to slip into a bill before Congress adjourns for the year, a move that has sparked outrage from Democrats and consumer advocates.
Medical experts fear that a fast-spreading avian flu strain, known as H5N1, could trigger a pandemic flu outbreak should it develop the ability to spread easily from person to person.
President Bush has requested $7.1 billion to help detect and respond to pandemic flu and help states prepare response plans.
It is unclear whether Congress will act on the Bush request, which includes the liability provision, this year.
They contend that the federal government already has the power to protect drug companies and that patients harmed by flu vaccines should be treated the same as those injured by vaccines for measles, chicken pox and other childhood diseases.
A federal "no-fault" program that went into effect in 1988 offers compensation for patients injured by childhood vaccines and is funded by a tax on every dose of the covered vaccines that are purchased.
Jillian Aldebron, a spokeswoman for Public Citizen, said that if the vaccine liability proposal had been law in 1976, 4,000 people who became ill after taking the swine flu vaccine would have had no recourse to seek compensation.
Call, Frist's spokeswoman, said the proposal offers "very targeted, very limited liability protection" to drug companies.
"We have heard in no uncertain terms that this is a show stopper for the (drug) industry," said Bruce Gellin, director of the national vaccine program office at the Department of Health and Human Services.
Richard Burr of North Carolina more than $31,000 for his Senate campaign last year, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks campaign contributions.
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml