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Let's treat Americans injured by the COVID-19 vaccine fairly
People injured by many vaccines are covered by a generous government program, but COVID-19 injuries fall under a different, stingier program.
Daniel Alholm
Guest Columnist
October 24, 2021
It’s time we afford individuals who are injured from the COVID-19 vaccine the same recourse we provide individuals harmed by other vaccines. Under The National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, vaccine manufacturers and parties who administer vaccines cannot be sued.
In exchange for immunity, vaccine companies pay a 75-cent tax on every vaccine they sell. These funds become part of the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (NVICP). If a person is injured by a covered vaccine, they can file a NVICP claim.
The NVICP permits recovery for out-of-pocket expenses, medical bills, costs associated with rehabilitation and recovery services, future medical costs, current and future lost wages and up to $250,000 in pain, suffering, and emotional damages.
The NVICP also covers the claimant’s legal fees. In 2020, the average NVICP award exceeded $250,000. Since its inception, the fund has paid out over $4.6 billion dollars.
COVID-19 vaccine injuries are covered by another less generous program
Unfortunately, not a dime of that $4.6 Billion dollars has gone to persons injured by the COVID-19 vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccine is currently considered a “countermeasure” and therefore covered under the Countermeasure Injury Compensation Program (CICP).
What the NVICP has in generosity, the CICP makes up for in stinginess. CICP claimants rarely receive rewards. They are not provided legal counsel, they are not provided due process, and they can’t be compensated for pain and suffering.
In 2020, the NVICP awarded a total of $186.8 million to 734 individuals.
From 2010-2021, the CICP gave out a total of 29 awards totaling $6.1 million. Less than three awards a year. There have been zero awards given for COVID-19 vaccine claims...