By Laurie Burkitt and Erin Galliher, Forbes, October 30, 2009

The swine flu marketing craze

Companies aim to earn a buck from the influenza scare.

Thousands of people line up to get the H1N1 vaccine at Metro Hall in Toronto on Friday October 30, 2009. // The swine flu marketing craze(THE CANADIAN PRESS - Frank Gunn)

THE CANADIAN PRESS - Frank Gunn

Thousands of people line up to get the H1N1 vaccine at Metro Hall in Toronto on Friday October 30, 2009.

With everyone worried about swine flu, some opportunistic outfits are trying to cash in on the potential pandemic by marketing all types of products--and not just soap, hand sanitizer and Roche's Tamiflu drug. Entrepreneurs hope to make a buck by hyping the health crisis.

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aphamilton

October 30, 2009 10:45:52 AM

I'm very upset that Laurie Burkitt and Erin Galliher for Forbes Oct 30, 2009 titled "The swine flu marketing craze" is missing the biggest players here! They forgot to put the names of big pharmaceutical companies who dish out millions for marketing campaigns. Talk about mis information !

Rrds,

If any body has any comments please don't be shy here!

The Bruce Man

October 30, 2009 11:24:20 AM

I dont know much about this whole thing. As I type, I am sitting at home, with some sort of flu. Now please people, hold back your hystarical comments about how i need to get to a doctor or get the H1N1 shot. First of all, already been to a doctor, dont have it. Secondly, not in target range to be in danger of such a virus, 3rd, I think all of this is ridiculous, do you know how many people die from the common flu every year, the numbers are higher than this swine flu. I understand the scare for children and elderly, but cmon people, do you not see the blatant use of internet and television, to get you to beleive this is a really serious threat. Next they're going to be saying, terrorists invented H1N1. Im sick of propaganda, I am not getting a shot. Dont you find it funny, how the day the shot was released, this 16 yr old boy was flashed all over the news, what about the others that died? why werent all of them recognized? Ill tell you why. Because at that time, the media had more important things to focus on, then pushing out an ill-tested drug to a mass audience, isnt anyone concerned about the long term effects of this drug? I mean, what has it been 5 or 6 months since the start of this scare? You dont think the pharmiceutical comps were wasting they're time and money on this before it was a threat do you? That would lead me to believe that not much testing has gone into this drug, and the fact that H1N1 products are smeared all over everything, and the first 3 pages of the news paper are dedicated to it now, how do you not see how your almost being brainwashed. I see the front cover picture of the paper, and its a mom with a mask on and her kid in her arms, looking like they're running from **** aliens or some ****, like cmon people, wake The **** UP!!! Your being used, just like always, **** Sheeple.

Alyssa91

October 31, 2009 6:41:08 PM

I think this swine flu fear is ridiculous. I've had it, and about 75% of my school has had it, trust me its nothing to worry about. If you were to see a doctor, there's nothing that they can give to you for it, maybe some tylenol to lower your fever, but that's about it. It scares me the most though because there are doctors telling their patients not to get the H1N1 shot, yet people are still receiving it. I refuse 100% to get it, I've heard the same story from three different doctors, there was not enough research or testing done for this shot, there's mercury in the shot, and you must request one with out any mercury in it to get that one, and I've also heard this from one doctor that the pharmaceutical company responsible for this shot asked the Canadian government not to hold them liable for anything that may go wrong. That I think is very scary, yet people are stupid enough to believe EVERYTHING they hear. People need to start thinking for themselves, and stop listening to everything the media tells them to believe.

ratra

October 31, 2009 6:52:18 PM

i agree with the bruce man & allyssa! i think this is all to make money!!! they don't make money from aids or any other serious illness, but if they scare people into thinking they need this shot people will do anything to get it ANYTHING!!!alot of the symptoms of swine flu r the same as the regular flu...

the TRTH

November 1, 2009 9:52:13 AM

How about the real business of swine flu, the PEOPLE WHO CREATED the virus are THE SAME PEOPLE is now selling the shots to all the governments. That's the real business of swine flu! These people are making massive profits off of our fear and murder. And no one is holding them accountable. We're getting plundered, and manipulated by these people, and the media is helping them do it because its one big club of rich people who are conspiring and scheming daily on a massive agenda to mold the world into a place where their power and richness can never be disrupted by the hoards of poor people.

the TRTH

November 1, 2009 9:52:45 AM

Federer1

November 1, 2009 11:29:02 AM

I'm not getting this vaccine or ANY vaccine. It's a scam and it is about population control and eugenics. Anyone who can't see that there is a 'pre-sell' going on here is sleep-walking through their life. More and more people are seeing through the con though.

Glenn003

November 2, 2009 11:19:24 PM

THE H1N1 SWINE FLU PANDEMIC resource page

http://globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=newsHighlights&newsId=46

time to wake up and really think for yourself .....

sanitizers

November 3, 2009 3:51:36 AM

There was a time that we knew little about hand sanitizers. Now they are all the craze. I am suprised that by now that there is not accessories for those scented apple blossoms and citrus fragranced santitizers. I should have took out shares!!

Greenzy88

#10

November 3, 2009 5:14:33 AM

Funny how GlaxoSmithKline is not here. I would figure the makers of the the vaccine would be cashing in the most. I guess thats none of our business. Computer virus, video game and paraphernalia makers are making the most money, not GlaxoSmithKline.

Is this a serious article? Or a joke?

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