New law will help stop litigation abuse against vaccines

[Guest guest]

Re the clips below, this is the first I have heard about this. . . .yet it

says that it will be signed into law in a few days. Is this one of those

items that is buried in a document where it does not appear to belong? Has

anyone else heard about this before now? I do not remember reading any news

releases from the NVIC on it ---

The bill President Bush is expected to sign expands coverage under the

Vaccine Injury Compensation Program to include vaccinated adults

U.S. Senator Larry Craig announced that legislation will be signed into law

in a few days by President Bush which will help avert future flu vaccine

shortages.

New law will help stop litigation abuse against

vaccines

http://www.news-medical.net/?id=5701

New law will help stop litigation abuse against vaccines

Posted By: News-Medical in Pharmaceutical News

Published: Thursday, 21-Oct-2004

Printer Friendly Email to a Friend

U.S. Senator Larry Craig announced that legislation will be signed into law

in a few days by President Bush which will help avert future flu vaccine

shortages.

“President Bush pushed Congress to pass the Jumpstart Our Business Strength

(JOBS) bill, and he should sign it very soon. That legislation contains

provisions protecting people financially from harm that might result from a

bad

reaction to a flu shot, and at the same time protecting flu vaccine

manufacturers

from excessive lawsuits. This is an important move for America’s seniors and

for the nation as a whole,†said Craig, who serves as chairman of the U.S.

Senate Special Committee on Aging.

The bill President Bush is expected to sign expands coverage under the

Vaccine Injury Compensation Program to include vaccinated adults. Since 1986

people

hurt by childhood vaccines have been compensated under that federal fund.

The

U.S. Justice Department reports that since the creation of that law, the

compensation fund has paid out in excess of $1.4 billion to nearly 1,800

people.

Funding for the program comes from a tax collected on vaccines.

“It’s an insurance policy if you will,†said Craig. “This bill isn’t

the

final step, though. It’s part of many efforts that are being made to ensure

an

abundant supply of vaccine in the future.â€

Craig noted that the Bush administration has made serious strides on the flu

vaccine issue already. “This is the first administration to begin developing

a

pandemic response plan and to create a stockpile of vaccines and antiviral

medications. The Bush administration has also increased the payment rates

under

Medicare for vaccines to make them more cost effective for doctors and

others

to provide,†Craig said.

Three weeks ago Craig’s committee held a hearing on flu vaccine at which a

company official from Chiron, a flu vaccine maker, as well as public health

officials expressed their belief that the nation would have a record supply

of flu

vaccine this year. But a week later British regulators ruled that the Chiron

vaccine was unfit to be shipped.

“We now have all of our eggs in only a couple of baskets,†Craig said. “We

need to decrease that risk and get more companies into the vaccine

manufacturing business within the United States.â€

The Idaho Republican noted that the fear of litigation is a factor in the

process.

“Critics contend that lawsuits are a minor story when it comes to vaccines.

But the untold story is that the other firm which makes flu vaccines for

senior

citizens declined to appear at our hearing because of concerns about

lawsuits. We need to curb our culture of excessive litigation,†Craig said.

In 1967 there were 26 companies making a variety of vaccines in the United

States. Today there are only four that make any type of vaccine, and just

three

that make flu vaccines. Of the three, only two make flu vaccines that can be

used by older Americans, and one can’t ship its product – leaving the U.S.

with just one flu vaccine supplier for the nation’s seniors.

“Sen. Evan Bayh and I introduced the Flu Protection Act earlier this year

and

I have asked my staff to review it and explore the possibilities of getting

it passed when Congress reconvenes in November. While it doesn’t address the

issue of litigation, under that bill vaccine makers would receive a

guarantee of

reimbursement by the federal government for a certain number of the vaccines

if they go unused. I believe it will be an important incentive to bring more

manufacturers into the vaccine making business, and that is step one,†Craig

said.

During the 2002-2003 flu season manufacturers lost approximately $120

million

through unused vaccines. As a result,12 million fewer vaccines were produced

for last year’s flu season.

“Step two in our bill is the inclusion of tax incentives for vaccine makers

to build production facilities in the United States. Right now the only flu

vaccine made in this nation is produced at one plant in Pennsylvania,†Craig

said.

In closing out his comments, he commended his home state of Idaho for the

way

in which officials there have handled the flu vaccine situation.

“In some areas of the country, the police are being brought in to control

crowds. But in Idaho, the state’s Department of Health, local health

districts,

and private providers are working in a coordinated way, setting up specific

appointments for seniors and others at risk to get their shots. The people

in

Idaho have really set an example on how business should be conducted,†Craig

said.

http://aging.senate.gov/

[Guest guest]

Sandy, I had the same questions on this, and I wrote Jo Pike of the

NAA on Wednesday. This is the info she received on it.

Stuart Burns in Congressman Weldon's office just wrote to me the

following:

*On flu vaccine - we just approved an excise tax on the flu vaccine

which clears the way for the Secretary of HHS to add the flu vaccine

to the compensation program. This bill has been forwarded to the

President

for his signature - it's part of a larger tax bill. So if anyone

says liability is an issue with flu vaccine manufacturers - you can

tell them " No longer so, they are part of VICA.

>

> Re the clips below, this is the first I have heard about

this. . . .yet it

> says that it will be signed into law in a few days. Is this one of

those

> items that is buried in a document where it does not appear to

belong? Has

> anyone else heard about this before now? I do not remember reading

any news

> releases from the NVIC on it ---

>

> The bill President Bush is expected to sign expands coverage under

the

> Vaccine Injury Compensation Program to include vaccinated adults

>

> U.S. Senator Larry Craig announced that legislation will be signed

into law

> in a few days by President Bush which will help avert future flu

vaccine

> shortages.

[Guest guest]

You know Sheri, I'm so sick of all of this already. When they state

that the poor vaccine manufacturers don't want to produce vaccines

because of litigation, what do people think? They think of sue happy

lawyers filing civil suits! If you have seen some of the articles on

Chiron's troubles, its not the lowly vaccine injured that is suing,

it is their stockholders, and state governments that are filing

suits, and/or starting investigations. So, when they are speaking of

litigation, it is financial, or governmental. How many people realize

that?

http://www.ktvu.com/news/3804721/detail.html

http://www.iht.com/articles/543262.html

> what the heck is this????????

> 1. " protecting flu vaccine manufacturers from excessive lawsuits "

> 2. " tax incentives for vaccine makers to build production

facilities "

> 3, flu vax has now been added to " Vaccine Injury Compensation

Program " ??????

>

> They GOT exactly what they wanted.

>

> Did anyone know about this..........obviously hidden as a rider in

this

> JOBS bill.

> And Bush will sign it into law. Isn't that special. Anyone??????

>

> Sheri

>

> http://www.news-medical.net/?id=5701

[Guest guest]

I tell you things are going from VERY VERY BAD to even worse. We have NO

chance whatsover...........

people are blind sheep. Some have woken up to the vaccine dangers issues

but they BETTER wake up FAST about everything else.

Sheri

At 12:19 PM 10/22/2004 -0000, you wrote:

>

>

>You know Sheri, I'm so sick of all of this already. When they state

>that the poor vaccine manufacturers don't want to produce vaccines

>because of litigation, what do people think? They think of sue happy

>lawyers filing civil suits! If you have seen some of the articles on

>Chiron's troubles, its not the lowly vaccine injured that is suing,

>it is their stockholders, and state governments that are filing

>suits, and/or starting investigations. So, when they are speaking of

>litigation, it is financial, or governmental. How many people realize

>that?

>

>http://www.ktvu.com/news/3804721/detail.html

>

>http://www.iht.com/articles/543262.html

>

>

>

>

>> what the heck is this????????

>> 1. " protecting flu vaccine manufacturers from excessive lawsuits "

>> 2. " tax incentives for vaccine makers to build production

>facilities "

>> 3, flu vax has now been added to " Vaccine Injury Compensation

>Program " ??????

>>

>> They GOT exactly what they wanted.

>>

>> Did anyone know about this..........obviously hidden as a rider in

>this

>> JOBS bill.

>> And Bush will sign it into law. Isn't that special. Anyone??????

>>

>> Sheri

>>

>> http://www.news-medical.net/?id=5701

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Subject: New law will help stop litigation abuse against vaccines

http://www.news-medical.net/?id=5701

New law will help stop litigation abuse against vaccines

Posted By: News-Medical in Pharmaceutical News

Published: Thursday, 21-Oct-2004

Printer Friendly Email to a Friend

U.S. Senator Larry Craig announced that legislation will be signed into law

in a few days by President Bush which will help avert future flu vaccine

shortages.

" President Bush pushed Congress to pass the Jumpstart Our Business Strength

(JOBS) bill, and he should sign it very soon. That legislation contains

provisions protecting people financially from harm that might result from a

bad

reaction to a flu shot, and at the same time protecting flu vaccine

manufacturers

from excessive lawsuits. This is an important move for America's seniors and

for the nation as a whole, " said Craig, who serves as chairman of the U.S.

Senate Special Committee on Aging.

The bill President Bush is expected to sign expands coverage under the

Vaccine Injury Compensation Program to include vaccinated adults. Since 1986

people

hurt by childhood vaccines have been compensated under that federal fund.

The

U.S. Justice Department reports that since the creation of that law, the

compensation fund has paid out in excess of $1.4 billion to nearly 1,800

people.

Funding for the program comes from a tax collected on vaccines.

" It's an insurance policy if you will, " said Craig. " This bill isn't the

final step, though. It's part of many efforts that are being made to ensure

an

abundant supply of vaccine in the future. "

Craig noted that the Bush administration has made serious strides on the flu

vaccine issue already. " This is the first administration to begin developing

a

pandemic response plan and to create a stockpile of vaccines and antiviral

medications. The Bush administration has also increased the payment rates

under

Medicare for vaccines to make them more cost effective for doctors and

others

to provide, " Craig said.

Three weeks ago Craig's committee held a hearing on flu vaccine at which a

company official from Chiron, a flu vaccine maker, as well as public health

officials expressed their belief that the nation would have a record supply

of flu

vaccine this year. But a week later British regulators ruled that the Chiron

vaccine was unfit to be shipped.

" We now have all of our eggs in only a couple of baskets, " Craig said. " We

need to decrease that risk and get more companies into the vaccine

manufacturing business within the United States. "

The Idaho Republican noted that the fear of litigation is a factor in the

process.

" Critics contend that lawsuits are a minor story when it comes to vaccines.

But the untold story is that the other firm which makes flu vaccines for

senior

citizens declined to appear at our hearing because of concerns about

lawsuits. We need to curb our culture of excessive litigation, " Craig said.

In 1967 there were 26 companies making a variety of vaccines in the United

States. Today there are only four that make any type of vaccine, and just

three

that make flu vaccines. Of the three, only two make flu vaccines that can be

used by older Americans, and one can't ship its product - leaving the U.S.

with just one flu vaccine supplier for the nation's seniors.

" Sen. Evan Bayh and I introduced the Flu Protection Act earlier this year

and

I have asked my staff to review it and explore the possibilities of getting

it passed when Congress reconvenes in November. While it doesn't address the

issue of litigation, under that bill vaccine makers would receive a

guarantee of

reimbursement by the federal government for a certain number of the vaccines

if they go unused. I believe it will be an important incentive to bring more

manufacturers into the vaccine making business, and that is step one, " Craig

said.

During the 2002-2003 flu season manufacturers lost approximately $120

million

through unused vaccines. As a result,12 million fewer vaccines were produced

for last year's flu season.

" Step two in our bill is the inclusion of tax incentives for vaccine makers

to build production facilities in the United States. Right now the only flu

vaccine made in this nation is produced at one plant in Pennsylvania, " Craig

said.

In closing out his comments, he commended his home state of Idaho for the

way

in which officials there have handled the flu vaccine situation.

" In some areas of the country, the police are being brought in to control

crowds. But in Idaho, the state's Department of Health, local health

districts,

and private providers are working in a coordinated way, setting up specific

appointments for seniors and others at risk to get their shots. The people

in

Idaho have really set an example on how business should be conducted, " Craig

said.

Randi Airola

517-819-5926