7.1 Billion for What?
G.W. Bush, the president of the US has recently outlined a $7.1 billion plan to prepare for the danger of a pandemic influenza outbreak. He said he wanted to stockpile enough vaccine to protect 20 million Americans against the current strain of bird flu - which experts see a waste of money, or, rather a bonanza for the pharma industry. This string becomes even more clear if we consider, that the president also said the US must approve liability protection for the pharma companies; i.e. not only should these multinationals receive even more cash from taxpayers's money but they will be releived of any responsibility should it turn out that what they sell as lifesaving vaccines are hazardous to your health.