Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has vowed to overhaul the federal vaccine injury compensation program, sparking concerns from experts that his changes may reflect his history in the anti-vaccine movement.
The program, created in 1986 as a no-fault payment system for vaccine injuries, has a backlog of cases and critics say it is “too miserly” in what it considers to be a vaccine injury. Kennedy and other critics believe expanding the program to cover unproven injuries could bankrupt it.
Despite its criticisms, the program has saved the US vaccine industry by providing quick compensation to Americans who report known injuries associated with vaccines. Experts say real changes are needed to modernize the 40-year-old program, including extending the statute of limitations for claims and adding new diseases and illnesses to the payable list.
One possible approach is adding autism to the government table of payable injuries, but this could lead to increased taxes on vaccines and make them more expensive. Critics argue that Kennedy’s changes will expand the program too far, citing his history as a leader in the anti-vaccine movement.
The Vaccine Injury Compensation Program has paid out $5.4 billion, compensating about 40% of all people who filed claims. However, critics say the process can be slow and burdensome, taking two to three years on average to resolve cases.
As health secretary, Kennedy has broad powers to reshape the program, but experts warn that his changes could lead to unintended consequences. The US has an “ethical obligation” to promptly pay those harmed by government-recommended vaccines, according to one expert.
The proposed overhaul of the vaccine injury compensation program raises concerns about its impact on vaccine accessibility and trust in the vaccination program.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/rfk-kenndy-vaccines-injury-compensation-lawsuit-gardasil-4a8ff2cec127d6ae7ddaf0f4f3479283