Children Compensated for Vaccine Injuries

At A Glance

This Alert Affects

In order to recover compensation under the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP), patients must receive a vaccination that is covered by the VICP and the adverse reaction must occur within days/weeks of receiving the vaccination.

Damages

Examples of adverse reactions that may occur with the vaccines covered by the VICP include anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction), paralytic polio and encephalopathy (general brain disorder). Settlements amounts are based on the Vaccine Injury Table, which was developed by a panel of experts and summarizes the adverse events caused by vaccines.

Company(ies)

Several drug companies manufacture the vaccines covered by the VICP.

Additional Details

Vaccinating children against infectious diseases has been a largely successful public health initiative in the United States. Vaccinations have greatly reduced vaccine-preventable disease, thereby allowing more children to live long, healthy lives. However, in some cases, vaccines can have severe side effects that result in lifelong disabilities or death.

Date

The statute of limitations on vaccine injury claims is 3 years from the date of the first adverse reaction. In a death case, the statute of limitations is 2 years from the date of death.