National Vaccine Compensation Program Awards 485 Cases

Most people who get vaccines have no serious issues. But, vaccines, like any medicines, can cause side effects.

In very rare cases, a vaccine can cause a serious problem, such as a severe allergic reaction.

In these instances, the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (NVICP) may provide financial compensation to individuals who file a petition and are found to have been injured by a VICP-covered vaccine.

The NVICP is a no-fault alternative to the traditional legal system for resolving vaccine injury petitions.

Even in cases in which such a finding is not made, petitioners may receive compensation through a settlement.

The federal government Advisory Commission on Childhood Vaccines (ACCV) under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) just concluded their initial 2017 meeting.

Since this was the first meeting during 2017 of the ACCV, the current report covers cases settled for vaccine injuries and deaths from 11/16/16 through 8/15/17.

• 856 total cases filed were listed in the report for this time period, specifying the vaccine, the injury or death, and the amount of time the case was pending before settlement,
• 485 compensated cases,
• 275 of the 332 cases were for injuries due to the flu vaccine, and there were 5 reported deaths, 4 of these fatalities were related to the flu vaccine.

The ACCV advises and makes recommendations to the Secretary of HHS on issues relating to the operation of the VICP. There are nine voting members who provide oversight of the VICP and recommend ways to improve the VICP.

Any individual, of any age, who received a covered vaccine and believes he or she was injured as a result, can file a petition. Parents, legal guardians and legal representatives can file on behalf of children, disabled adults, and individuals who are deceased.

To be compensated by the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP), you must file a petition with the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.

The petition is a legal document that you can prepare yourself or hire a lawyer to prepare and file on your behalf. Because this is a legal process, most people hire a lawyer.

The Court generally will award reasonable attorneys' fees and other legal costs as long as your petition is deemed reasonable and filed in good faith.

The U.S. Court of Federal Claims, Office of Special Masters has detailed information about how to submit a petition, including guidelines, sample filings and a list of attorneys who have agreed, upon request, to accept referrals in certain vaccine injury cases.