Kennedy Takes Intention at Vaccine Damage Compensation Program
Well being and Human Providers Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been implementing an anti-vaccine technique that features concentrating on a federal program that pays cash to sufferers injured by immunizations, folks acquainted with the planning informed KFF Well being Information.
The plan includes increasing the kinds of accidents eligible for compensation, probably overwhelming the fund with claims that might bankrupt this system. Different components of the technique embody a possible mandate that vaccine makers cease utilizing a typical additive, forcing them to make costly reformulations or exit the market altogether.
The Vaccine Damage Compensation Program has paid out greater than $5 billion since its inception in 1988 with funds from a small tax on vaccines. This system was established to compensate sufferers for accidents whereas stopping lawsuits that might imperil pharmaceutical corporations and vaccine provides.
Earlier than submitting in courtroom, injured people should carry their claims to this system’s nonjury vaccine courtroom to find out what, if any, compensation must be supplied.
To broaden the record of eligible accidents, Kennedy is seeking to hyperlink vaccines to allergic reactions or autism although no scientific knowledge confirms a connection. HHS has already launched a probe into the causes of autism that’s anticipated to implicate vaccines.
“Given the speed of autism, if loads of instances are introduced, that might bankrupt this system,” stated Dorit Reiss, a professor at College of California Legislation San Francisco.
Kennedy has weighed having a vaccine advisory group look at aluminum, which is utilized in some vaccines. In July he linked aluminum to allergic reactions, though a current research within the Annals of Inner Drugs discovered no connection.
Some public well being leaders derided the technique as dangerous.
“It’s a radical agenda,” stated Angela Rasmussen, a virologist on the Vaccine and Infectious Illness Group on the College of Saskatchewan in Canada. “He’s utilizing a bunch of various mechanisms and there actually aren’t any guardrails. Individuals are going to catch on nevertheless it’s not going to be sufficient to cease the waves of deaths, and deaths of youngsters.”
HHS says Kennedy shouldn’t be towards vaccines.
“Secretary Kennedy shouldn’t be anti-vaccine – he’s pro-safety, pro-transparency, and pro-accountability,” Vianca Rodriguez Feliciano, an HHS spokesperson, stated in an e-mail.
Kennedy has stated he needs to change the vaccine damage fund, writing July 28 on the social platform X that it’s “damaged, and I intend to repair it.” HHS is working with the Division of Justice to revamp this system.
KFF Well being Information is a nationwide newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about well being points and is likely one of the core working applications at KFF—an unbiased supply of well being coverage analysis, polling, and journalism. Study extra about KFF.
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