Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: JDN who wrote (648597)	10/20/2004 12:30:49 PM
From: pompsander	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 769670

Sorry no link, but articles today point out that legislation already exists to protect influenza manufacterers from tort liability...I think it was a child protection law passed back in 1996. There is some other piece of legislation that congress has passed that is awaiting Bush's signature that will provide further protection. The problem is not tort liability...it is the fact (as Cheney stated) that there is not enough profit in manufacturing it. If the companies get stuck with oversupply, it won't keep until next season, so it is a big guessing game as to how much to make. This still does not answer the question of why, as a matter of public health policy, we ended up in this tough spot.

To: JDN who wrote (648597)	10/20/2004 1:08:47 PM
From: Kenneth E. Phillipps	Respond to of 769670

They are liable under the laws of the US if their vaccine is distributed in the US.

To: JDN who wrote (648597)	10/20/2004 1:48:03 PM
From: Doug R	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769670

With the outsourcing of jobs by multinationals moving jobs OUT of this country, it's interesting that the effect in Chiron's case was to give a veto over US security to Great Britain. It's also interesting that: Congress in 1986 passed the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act that largely shields vaccine manufacturers from serious legal liability. Congress voted this year to add flu vaccines to the program, a bill that only awaits President Bush's signature, according to a spokesman for the program. shrub...asleep at the switch...AGAIN. Bush has not nominated a replacement at the FDA for Mark McClellan, who left in February 2004. shrub...asleep at the switch...AGAIN. The Food and Drug Administration, America's health watchdog, knew over a year ago of safety problems at the facility that produces half the US flu vaccine supply, but the administration failed to direct FDA to take aggressive action to require the company to correct the problems -- or even to conduct a follow-up inspection. Indeed, the Bush administration recently admitted that they relied solely on information from the vaccine manufacturer to determine the status and safety of the vaccine supply. shrub...asleep at the switch...AGAIN. The Bush administration was warned time and again of the need to take action to avert a disastrous vaccine shortage. The General Accounting Office, the government watchdog agency, raised the alarm in 2001: "a production delay or shortfall experienced by even one of the three remaining manufacturers can significantly impact overall vaccine availability." The GAO stated just last month that "the absence of more detail in HHS's draft plan creates uncertainty for the states regarding how to plan for the use of limited supplies of vaccine." [GAO Report: Flu Vaccine: Supply Problems Heighten Need to Ensure Access for High-Risk People; May 15, 2001; GAO testimony to Senate Committee on Aging; September 28, 2004]