Flu Protection Act of 2005

The Flu Protection Act of 2005 was designed to strengthen the nation’s ability to prevent and respond to seasonal and pandemic influenza. The bill would have required the Department of Health and Human Services to launch annual public awareness campaigns and work with states to improve vaccine delivery to high-risk populations. To ensure a steady supply of medicine, the legislation proposed tax credits for manufacturers to build new vaccine facilities and authorized the government to contract for additional doses to prevent shortages.

For the average citizen, this bill aimed to make flu shots more reliable and easier to access through better-coordinated distribution and increased domestic production. It also sought to improve public health preparedness by requiring the federal government to create a formal response plan for potential flu pandemics. Although the bill was introduced in the Senate and referred to the Committee on Finance, it did not advance further to become law.