Details of Secret German Contract with GSK revealed by BILD

Details of Secret German Contract with GSK revealed by BILD

Monday, 30 November 2009 18:31





http://www.bild.de/BILD/news/bild-english/world-news/2009/11/20/swine-flu-pandemic/germanys-secret-virus-vaccine-contract-revealed.html



Germany signed a secret contract to prepare for a pandemic of deadly flu - in

BILD has revealed the agreement with pharmaceutical firm GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) which was apparently signed from an underlying fear of the bird flu virus. It came into affect when the swine flu pandemic began.

And you can read portions of the 'Agreement between the German government and its states and GSK' regarding the preparation of a vaccine for the killer virus in Germany:

QUANTITY
“GSK offers all states... the possibility... to buy 25 per cent of its Dresden-produced pandemic vaccine, to a maximum quantity necessary to supply 50 per cent of the German population.”

Meaning: At most, half of Germany will be provided for.
PRICE
“The buying price... is €7 plus tax per dose, €1 of which is covers the antigen components and €6... the booster components.”

Meaning: The serum itself only costs €1 per dose; it’s the booster that is expensive.
DELIVERY TIMEFRAME
It is agreed upon that “an obligation does not exist on the part of GSK to supply the theoretically-calculated weekly supply of the pandemic vaccine within a certain timeframe".

Meaning: GSK doesn’t have to uphold any delivery dates.
SIDE EFFECTS
“The states hold GSK... free of any claim for damages by third parties, losses or financial costs, or any legal actions incurred.”

Meaning: Should any unexpected major side effects arise, the manufacture has only very limited responsibility. In lawsuits the province would take main legal responsibility.
SECRECY
“The parties commit themselves to treat all information which is exchanged in the frame of this contract as confidential.”

TIME SPAN
The contract... ends with its carrying out in the first case of a pandemic or by Dec 31, 2012 if no acute case has been present.”