Senator Proposes Free Flu Shots for All Americans
May 2nd, 2009Via: Reuters:
A Democratic U.S. senator proposed on Friday setting up a free nationwide voluntary flu vaccination program to fend off future outbreaks of dangerous strains.
With the United States on alert for more cases of the new H1N1 swine flu virus, Iowa Senator Tom Harkin said the government should include funding for free vaccines for all Americans in the supplemental spending bill now moving through Congress.
“The harsh reality is that we have repeatedly experienced devastating flu pandemics,” Harkin said in a statement.
“Strictly as a matter of prudent prevention, it is desirable to maximize the number of Americans who are vaccinated each year,” Harkin said. President Barack Obama has requested $1.5 billion from Congress to address the ongoing swine flu outbreak.
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Harkin, who chairs the Senate appropriations subcommittee on health, said his bill would help build vaccine-manufacturing capacity and prevent production capacity from becoming idle.
“By offering annual free vaccines to all 304 million people in the United States, our vaccine-production capacity will be up and running and ready to shift, when necessary, to mass production of vaccines to fight a future outbreak or pandemic,” Harkin’s statement said.
He said intended to incorporate the measure into broader health reform legislation that Democrats want to pass later this year. [sic]
Research Credit: j crash
“By offering annual free vaccines to all 304 million people in the United States, our vaccine-production capacity will be up and running and ready to shift, when necessary, to mass production of vaccines to fight a future outbreak or pandemic,” Harkin’s statement said.
Big Pharma just got a MAJOR woody.