NEWS: Bush Outlines $7.1 Billion Flu-Fighting Strategy, page 1

posted on Nov, 2 2005 @ 03:11 AM

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U.S. President Bush today announced a program that would allow every American to be inoculated against a world wide flu outbreak within 6 months of its onset. The 7.1 billion dollar program would not be fully implemented till 2010. The plan would stockpile enough vaccine to protect 20 million Americans against the current H5N1 strain, buy stocks of Tamiflu and Relenza, provide money to speed the production of pandemic vaccines, provide money for international preparations, help states with preparations, expand testing of poultry and birds for the disease, and limit liability against vaccine manufacturers.

news.yahoo.com
WASHINGTON - President Bush outlined a $7.1 billion strategy Tuesday to prepare for a possible worldwide super-flu outbreak, aiming to overhaul the vaccine industry so eventually every American could be inoculated within six months of a pandemic's beginning.

Such a huge change would take years to implement — Bush's goal is 2010 — and his plan drew immediate fire from critics who said it wouldn't provide enough protection in the meantime. States, too, got an unpleasant surprise, ordered to purchase millions of doses of an anti-flu drug with their own money.

The long-awaited strategy also stresses expanded attempts to detect and contain the next super-flu before it reaches the United States, with particular attention to parts of Asia that are influenza incubators — a global focus that flu specialists have insisted the government adopt.

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Its an interesting plan that deals with the issue on several fronts. I especially like the limiting liability aspect of this. The bottom line is that manufacturers are becoming overwhelmed with the sheer amount of litigation. As a nurse, I spend half my time documenting simply because of fears of being sued and the other half with the patient. I'm not kidding. Liability has to be kept in check.

noslenwerd

posted on Nov, 2 2005 @ 09:11 AM

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This is a step in the right direction, but correct me if I'm wrong... This is not going into effect until 2010? Most scientists/researchers are predicting this pandemic will go into full swing within the next 5 years. Won't matter much in 2010 if millions are already dead.

awake

posted on Nov, 3 2005 @ 03:22 PM

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This sounds VERY problem - reation - solution 2 me. Give us a wierd "bird-flu" thing, and 'innoculate' us with some dodgy vaccine, the contents of which we have no idea about. I'm pretty suspicious of this one.

Why is Bush acting so quickly here, compared to other similar situations? Why is so much gov't money suddenly available?

Taking liberties by fear once again? More $ for Bush's mates in the pharm's industry taken from understandably paranoid Americans, heeding the "warning" from the "caring" President. Smells.........

marg6043

posted on Nov, 3 2005 @ 03:34 PM

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I don't get it either. . . why out of no where is money for the pharmaceutical business to benefit.

This people spend billions annually lobbying in Washington, Why they can not used that money instead of the tax payer money for vaccines, the money is just going into more lobbying and paying for political candidates campaign funds.

soficrow

posted on Nov, 3 2005 @ 04:13 PM

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Not to mention - the first line of defense is prevention - and dealing with animal outbreaks. This bug bounces back and forth between people and animals. Vaccinate against H5N1, and the sucker is just gonna morph and come back stronger, from another direction.

This $7+ billion looks more like just another funnel to international Big Pharma. It does not look like a solution.