COVID-19 Vaccine Makers and Providers Granted Immunity Through 2029

Contact Your Elected Officials
The Epoch Times Header

A Dec. 11 amendment to the PREP Act has sparked debate over accountability for COVID-19 vaccine-related injuries.

The Biden administration has extended liability protections for COVID-19 vaccine makers, health care providers, and others through 2029. The decision, which has sparked renewed debate over accountability for vaccine-related injuries and the future of public health policy, ensures immunity from most lawsuits for those involved in the development and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and other medical countermeasures.

The five-year extension, signed by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra on Dec. 11, continues a policy first implemented during the pandemic under then-President Donald Trump. It is one of the longest liability protections in the history of the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act. Proponents argue that the protections are essential for fostering innovation and maintaining public health readiness, but critics contend they leave vaccine-injured individuals without recourse and could limit future administrationsโ€™ ability to enact significant policy changes.

While the official COVID-19 public health emergency ended on May 11, 2023, the new declaration warns of a โ€œcredible risk of a future public health emergency.โ€

The PREP Act, enacted in 2005, grants liability immunity to encourage the swift development and deployment of medical countermeasures during public health emergencies. Without this protection, manufacturers and providers might hesitate to produce or distribute critical productsโ€”like vaccines or treatmentsโ€”due to fears of lawsuits over unforeseen side effects. The act was first invoked for COVID-19 in March 2020, covering vaccines, antiviral treatments, diagnostic tools, and protective equipment.

As the United States prepares for potential future outbreaks, this latest extension ensures that legal protections for manufacturers and health care providers remain intact. However, the decision has sparked fresh calls for reformโ€”or even repealโ€”of the PREP Act, with critics pushing for greater accountability and support for individuals harmed by medical countermeasures.

Broadening Scope of the PREP Act

Amendments to the PREP Act during the pandemic expanded its scope to include telehealth providers and pharmacy technicians, thus speeding up the rollout of vaccines in response to urgent health needs. According to the American Pharmacists Association, these changes improved access in underserved communities, where local pharmacies often serve as primary health care providers. Nearly 90 percent of Americans live within five miles of a pharmacy. Previous amendments also supported health care providers in non-traditional settings, reflecting the shifting demands of public health emergencies.

Byย Sheramy Tsai

Read Full Article on TheEpochTimes.com

The Epoch Times
The Epoch Timeshttps://www.theepochtimes.com/
Tired of biased news? The Epoch Times is truthful, factual news that other media outlets don't report. No spin. No agenda. Just honest journalism like it used to be.

ChatGPT Goes Biblical about End Times!

There are some truly outstanding internet content creators, or...

Bangkok Indians: โ€˜You Are Lucky Manโ€™

In Bangkok, friendly prostitutes outside โ€œmassageโ€ shops tell me Iโ€™m โ€œso handsome man.โ€ Indian men prowling those streets tell me Iโ€™m โ€œlucky man.โ€

Epsteinโ€™s Niece Exposes the Illuminati!

There is a shocking interview by the podcaster Shaun Attwood, an English former ecstasy trafficker turned YouTube podcaster, speaker, activist, and author.

When Gynocrats Attack: Innocent Locker Room Talk Interrupted By Rabid Karen

The question posed: โ€œWho do you think has a...

Obamaโ€™s Treason is a Betrayal of American Democracy and Demands Real Accountability

Few scandals have cast a longer shadow than the 2016 Russia investigationโ€”the manufactured crisis by President Obama designed to cripple Trump's presidency.

Trumps America: Welpโ€ฆ that backfired.

The official @TheDemocrats account posted chart with the caption โ€œTrumpโ€™s Americaโ€ โ€” but didnโ€™t seem to notice how their own graph actually works.

Education Department to Release Billions in Withheld Grant Money for Schools

Dept. of Education said OMB completed a review of 2025 public education allocations โ€œand will begin dispersing funds to the states next week.โ€

Judge Maintains Nationwide Block on Trumpโ€™s Birthright Citizenship Order

A federal judge in Massachusetts has maintained his nationwide block on President Donald Trumpโ€™s policy restricting birthright citizenship.

COVID-19 Pandemic Accelerated Brain Aging Even in People Who Didnโ€™t Get Virus: Study

Brain aging appears to have accelerated by months during COVID-19 pandemic, even in people who did not get sick from the virus, according to study.

Ex-DOJ Officials File Lawsuit Against Bondi Over Terminations

Former DOJ officials filed lawsuit against AG Bondi and the fed. govt, saying they were terminated for work on cases related to Jan. 6 Capitol breach.

Odds of U.S.-EU Trade Deal Are 50โ€“50 Ahead of Tariff Deadline: Trump

President Donald Trump said thereโ€™s a 50โ€“50 chance that the United States will finalize a trade deal with the European Union before an Aug. 1 deadline.

Trump Pulls Habbaโ€™s Nomination for New Jerseyโ€™s Top Prosecutor, Making Her Acting US Attorney

President Trump withdrew his nomination of Alina Habba to serve as NJโ€™s top federal prosecutor, making her Acting US Attorney.

Trump Says He Wants Muskโ€™s Companies to โ€˜Thrive Like Never Beforeโ€™

On Thursday, President Trump said, โ€œI want Elon, and all businesses within our Country, to THRIVE, in fact, THRIVE like never before!โ€
spot_img

Related Articles