No-Fault Compensation for Vaccine Injury — The Other Side of Equitable Access to Covid-19 Vaccines

[Mary Wilson]

October 28, 2020

DOI: 10.1056/NEJMp2030600
Sam Halabi, J.D., Andrew Heinrich, J.D., and Saad B. Omer, M.B., B.S., Ph.D., M.P.H.

The Covid-19 pandemic has triggered a global vaccine race. As of September 27, 2020, there were more than 200 vaccine candidates in preclinical and clinical development, including 11 in phase 3 trials. Wealthy governments that have invested in vaccine candidates have made bilateral agreements with developers that could result in vaccine doses being reserved for the highest-income countries — a phenomenon known as “vaccine nationalism” — potentially leaving people in poor countries vulnerable to Covid-19.

... Equally important is offering companies protection against potentially substantial liability should Covid-19 vaccines cause real or perceived injuries to recipients. Manufacturers won’t agree to procurement contracts or ship vaccine without liability protection. According to an AstraZeneca executive, for example, in the company’s bilateral contracts, it has been granted protection against legal claims arising from the use of its vaccine products, since it “cannot take the risk” of liability.[SUP]1

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2030600?query=featured_home[/SUP]

 

[Mary Wilson]

Under pressure, WHO plans COVID-19 vaccine insurance scheme for poor nations

OCTOBER 29, 202010:45 AM UPDATED A DAY AGO
By Francesco Guarascio

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - A vaccine scheme co-led by the World Health Organization is setting up a compensation fund for people in poor nations who might suffer any side-effects from COVID-19 vaccines, aiming to allay fears that could hamper a global rollout of shots.

... The scheme is being set up by the promoters of the COVAX vaccine facility, which is co-led by the WHO and GAVI, a global vaccine alliance, a COVAX document published on Thursday said. COVAX aims to distribute at least 2 billion effective shots around the world by the end of next year.

However dozens of middle-income countries, such as South Africa, Lebanon, Gabon, Iran and most Latin American states, would not be offered this protection.

https://www.reuters.com/article/hea...surance-scheme-for-poor-nations-idUSKBN27E2E6