The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) pays compensation to eligible claimants who have been diagnosed with injuries and illnesses related to many CDC-recommended vaccinations. However, not all CDC-recommended vaccinations are covered. In this article, vaccine lawyer Leah V. Durant discusses which vaccines are covered, which ones are not covered, and what you can do if your vaccine isn’t covered under the VICP.
CDC-Recommended Vaccines Covered Under the Vaccine Program
The vaccines that are covered under the VICP are those that are listed on the program’s Vaccine Injury Table. As the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) explains, “For a category of vaccines to be covered, the category of vaccines must be recommended for routine administration to children or pregnant women by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . . . subject to an excise tax by federal law, and added to the VICP by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.” Currently, the vaccines covered under the VICP include:
- Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccines (Hib)
- Hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccines (HepA and HepB)
- Human papillomavirus vaccines (HPV)
- Influenza vaccines (flu shot)
- Measles, mumps and rubella vaccines (MMR, MM and MMRV)
- Meningitis vaccines
- Pneumonia vaccines
- Polio vaccines (IPV and OPV)
- Rotavirus vaccines
- Vaccines containing tetanus toxoid (DTaP, DTP, DT, Td and TT)
- Vaccines containing pertussis bacteria or antigens (DTP, DTaP, P and DTP-Hib)
- Varicella (chickenpox) vaccines
CDC-Recommended Vaccines Not Covered Under the Vaccine Program
Currently, if a vaccine is not listed on the Vaccine Injury Table, then it is not eligible for compensation under the VICP. This means that vaccines excluded from coverage under the program include:
- Travel vaccines not listed on the Vaccine Injury Table
- Vaccines approved for use but not currently recommended for routine administration in the U.S.
- COVID-19 vaccines
What if Your Vaccine Isn’t Covered Under the VICP?
The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program provides an important source of financial recovery for individuals and families coping with the effects of injuries and illnesses from covered vaccinations. So, what if your vaccine isn’t covered under the VICP?
In this scenario, your options depend on the specific circumstances at hand. For example, it may be possible to file a negligence or medical malpractice claim against your health care provided. Recipients of “non-covered” vaccines can also file claims against vaccine manufacturers in some cases. There is also another federal government program that provides compensation for certain vaccine-related injuries and illnesses—the Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program (CICP)—but filing a CICP claim presents a number of unique challenges, and the compensation available under this program is limited.
Request a Free Consultation with Vaccine Lawyer Leah V. Durant
If you have questions about seeking financial compensation for an injury or illness caused by any type of vaccination, we encourage you to get in touch. To request a free consultation with vaccine lawyer Leah V. Durant, call 202-800-1711 or tell us what we can do to help online today.
Leah Durant Bio
Experienced litigation attorney Leah Durant focuses on representing clients in complex vaccine litigation matters. Leah Durant is the owner and principal attorney of the Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, a litigation firm based in Washington, DC. Leah Durant and her staff represent clients and their families who suffer from vaccine-related injuries, adverse vaccine reactions and vaccine-related deaths. The Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC is dedicated to assisting individuals in recovering the highest level of compensation as quickly and efficiently as possible. To learn more, contact vaccine attorney Leah Durant today.