Lawmakers in Arkansas are considering legislation that could deliver a death blow to the pharmaceutical industry.
Senate Bill 6, introduced by Republican State Sen. Bryan King, would overcome the pharmaceutical industry’s federal liability shield for vaccine injuries.
The bill seeks to hold corporate executives criminally liable for “vaccine harms” if they concealed evidence of risks associated with an injection that subsequently seriously injured or killed the recipient.
Under Senate Bill 6, an executive officer of a pharmaceutical company who “knowingly hides, conceals, omits, or otherwise withholds evidence, documentation, or information that the vaccine has dangerous effects” would be criminally prosecuted.
Those execs would be charged with a felony and face a prison sentence of one year to life.
King said the bill is needed because the civil penalties and settlements from drug manufacturers and distributors from the opioid crisis aren’t enough to determine again from misleading the public.
“It’s about holding them criminally responsible,” King said.
“You can fine them $500 million but if they’ve made a billion off of it they don’t care.”
The bill is pending before the Arkansas Senate.
King also introduced Senate Bill 5, which seeks to hold Big Pharma executives criminally liable for “prescription drug harm.”
Previous versions of both bills unanimously passed last year in the Arkansas Senate.
However, they died in the Arkansas House.
Currently, two federal laws provide civil immunity to vaccine manufacturers.
The National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986 grants manufacturers broad protection from civil liability for injuries resulting from vaccines listed on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) childhood immunization schedule.
Under the 1986 act, people injured by these vaccines can file a claim under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.
Vaccines like the Covid mRNA injections, were introduced as an “emergency countermeasure” to address a public health emergency.
They are covered under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act).
Under the PREP Act, manufacturers and other “covered persons” — including doctors, nurses, and pharmacists who administer the vaccines — are exempt from liability.
Vaccine injury claims for this category of vaccines are filed with the federal Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program.
