Little noticed among the plethora of writings about the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccines, and other actual or potential drug therapies is the topic of liability prevention. When pharmaceutical makers are compelled to produce vaccines or other treatments to combat pandemics, they understandably may be reluctant to do so if it could result in billions of dollars of liability exposure. The law should provide clear protections for these innovating manufacturers now so we are better prepared for future pandemics and other health crises.

It may seem to some like ancient history, but it was only 70 years ago that polio was at its peak ravaging the United States. Pioneering medical researchers such as Dr. Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin respectively developed a polio vaccine and oral vaccine pill, which together have effectively eradicated polio worldwide.