On June 11, 2009, the W.H.O. declared H1N1 swine flu to be a global influenza pandemic, phase 6. Curiously, at that point in time, there were only 144 swine flu deaths in the entire world. Nevertheless, the W.H.O.’s declaration triggered $18 billion in sleeping contracts to activate across the world, and production of hundreds of millions of H1N1 vaccine doses kicked into high gear—including GlaxoSmithKline’s Pandemrix.
“One of the greatest medical scandals of the century.”
Dr Wolfgang Wodard, Chair of the Health Committee in The European Council: