Australian Government Prepares To Protect Vaccine Maker From Lawsuits Over Possible Side Effects

"The Federal Government has signalled that vaccine company CSL will be protected from legal action if new bird flu treatments have damaging side-effects.

"As Health Minister Tony Abbott handed more money to researchers to protect Australia from the flu threat, he promised that the Government would do everything possible to help CSL fast-track production of a human vaccine.

"The Melbourne-based drug-maker has predicted its vaccine against the deadly bird flu virus could be available in Australia within six weeks of a pandemic."