This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/09/us-firms-liability-protections-ebola-vaccine

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
US firms to be given liability protections to boost search for Ebola vaccine US firms to be given special dispensation in bid to boost search for Ebola vaccine
(about 4 hours later)
The US Department of Health and Human Services on Tuesday offered liability protections to drugmakers rushing to develop Ebola vaccines and urged other countries to follow suit.The US Department of Health and Human Services on Tuesday offered liability protections to drugmakers rushing to develop Ebola vaccines and urged other countries to follow suit.
The health and human services (HHS) secretary, Sylvia Burwell, made the announcement as part of the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (Prep) Act in a move aimed at encouraging the development and availability of experimental Ebola vaccines.The health and human services (HHS) secretary, Sylvia Burwell, made the announcement as part of the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (Prep) Act in a move aimed at encouraging the development and availability of experimental Ebola vaccines.
The declaration provides immunity under US law against legal claims related to the manufacturing, testing, development, distribution and administration of three vaccines for the Ebola virus. However, it does not provide immunity for a claim brought in a court outside the United States.The declaration provides immunity under US law against legal claims related to the manufacturing, testing, development, distribution and administration of three vaccines for the Ebola virus. However, it does not provide immunity for a claim brought in a court outside the United States.
The United States has for many years offered similar protections to vaccine makers to encourage the development of childhood vaccines.The United States has for many years offered similar protections to vaccine makers to encourage the development of childhood vaccines.
HHS said the declaration is part of global efforts to address issues in the United States and in other countries where such vaccines are being developed, made and potentially used.HHS said the declaration is part of global efforts to address issues in the United States and in other countries where such vaccines are being developed, made and potentially used.
Burwell urged other countries to follow suit by enacting similar liability protections. “As a global community, we must ensure that legitimate concerns about liability do not hold back the possibility of developing an Ebola vaccine, an essential strategy in our global response to the Ebola epidemic in west Africa,” she said in a statement.Burwell urged other countries to follow suit by enacting similar liability protections. “As a global community, we must ensure that legitimate concerns about liability do not hold back the possibility of developing an Ebola vaccine, an essential strategy in our global response to the Ebola epidemic in west Africa,” she said in a statement.
Drug companies and scientists are racing to develop an effective vaccine to help fight the worst Ebola outbreak on record, which has killed some 6,300 people in the three worst-hit countries in west Africa, and they are collaborating to find the best approach.Drug companies and scientists are racing to develop an effective vaccine to help fight the worst Ebola outbreak on record, which has killed some 6,300 people in the three worst-hit countries in west Africa, and they are collaborating to find the best approach.
Earlier this month, scientists at Oxford University started the first clinical trials of an experimental Ebola vaccine being developed by GlaxoSmithKline and the US National Institutes of Health.Earlier this month, scientists at Oxford University started the first clinical trials of an experimental Ebola vaccine being developed by GlaxoSmithKline and the US National Institutes of Health.
Other vaccine developers include Johnson & Johnson, Merck and NewLink Genetics Corp and Denmark’s Bavarian Nordic, which is developing a booster shot to help improve the effectiveness of some of the vaccines.Other vaccine developers include Johnson & Johnson, Merck and NewLink Genetics Corp and Denmark’s Bavarian Nordic, which is developing a booster shot to help improve the effectiveness of some of the vaccines.