PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES WILL GET SPECIAL PROTECTION

Americans deserve Protection from a Pandemic Flu Outbreak

"Congress needs to act to protect Americans from the dangers of a pandemic flu outbreak – and the best way to protect Americans from the flu is to produce safe vaccines."

"But the Bush Administration and Members of Congress are using fear of a flu outbreak as an excuse to slip in huge giveaways to the pharmaceutical industry. Proposals being considered would limit the ability of individuals to hold drug companies accountable if they give people unhealthy or deadly vaccines or drugs, even if they commit gross negligence."

"The bill doesn’t just give immunity to a flu vaccine. The legislation would allow the government to add drugs made by their favorite corporations to a list of those that would be protected. You name it, they could add it to the list."

"Even if it’s not related at all, the drugmaker could receive immunity anyway, if the Secretary of Health and Human Services says so. One person would be given the power to give immunity from all liability to any drug company for any drug!"

"What does that mean for ordinary Americans? It means no remedy if you or your loved ones are injured or killed by a bad dose of vaccine -- or by any dangerous drug that’s on the immunity list!"

"For instance, if a drug maker marketed a drug or vaccine that was approved for adults, but caused serious medical problems and even death when used by children, as was the case with heartburn medicine Propulsid, the parents of an injured child would have no way to hold the drug maker accountable.
And if a contaminated batch of an anti-viral treatment caused massive illness and even death, families would be unable to get any remedy."

"Unfortunately, there have been a number of cases where drug companies placed dangerous drugs on the market, putting their bottom line before the health and safety of the public."

"In the most recent example, the vaccine manufacturer Merck continued to market its pain relief drug Vioxx, even as internal company documents showed that corporate officials were aware of the serious problems with the drug. Before Merck pulled Vioxx from the market, as many as 55,000 Americans were killed by heart attacks and strokes caused by the drug, according to congressional testimony by David Graham a scientist with the Food and Drug Administration."

"Tell Congress to put our families' health and safety before pharmaceutical company profits. If they are really interested in protecting the public's safety, they will stand up for safe vaccines, not special protections for the pharmaceutical industry. Tell Congress, no special protections for the pharmaceutical industry!" (From www.peopleoverprofits.org)