National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program
Vaccines are an important part of public health and work to save lives by preventing disease. Most of the time, vaccines are administered without any serious problems. Like with any medication, however, there is a risk of side effects, ranging from mild to serious.
For this reason, the US government created the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (NVICP), a “no-fault” alternative to the traditional legal system. Petitions can be filed by any individual, at any age, after developing an injury believed to be a result of a covered vaccine, if jurisdictional requirements are met.
How the Vaccine Injury Table Functions
To guide this program, the NVICP is paired with a Vaccine Injury Table, which lists vaccines covered by the program and illnesses associated with each vaccine.
This table functions in three ways: (1) To specify vaccines covered by the NVICP, (2) to specify injuries eligible for compensation associated with specific vaccines, (3) to establish an expected time frame for the onset of symptoms of the specific injury.
Vaccines included on the Vaccine Injury Table
Because the Program was developed in response to civil lawsuits concerning the DPT vaccine, which aimed to protect children, vaccines included on the table are all part of the recommended immunization schedule for children and adolescents in the U.S.
Vaccines included on the Vaccine Injury Table include:
- Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis
- Haemophilus influenzae type b
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Human papillomavirus
- Seasonal Influenza
- Measles, Mumps, and Rubella
- Meningococcal
- Pneumococcal conjugate
- Polio
- Rotavirus
- Varicella
Medical conditions covered under the NVICP include:
• Brachial Neuritis
• Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS)
• Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP)
• Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA)
For a complete list of medical conditions identified on the Vaccine Injury Table, click here
What if my condition is not listed on the Vaccine Injury Table?
If you receive one of the above vaccinations and suffer an injury that does not appear on the Vaccine Injury Table, you may still file a petition for compensation in the NVICP. Many claims proceed forward in the NVICP even when the specific injury is not listed within the Vaccine Injury Table. When the injury is not listed on the table, a causal relationship between the vaccine and the injury must be proven by preponderant evidence.
Shawmut Law is the most experienced vaccine injury law firm in the United States. We represent clients from all 50 states and have advocated for landmark cases that have shaped the Vaccine Program and made it friendlier and more generous to those individuals who suffer from vaccine injuries.
To get in touch with our dedicated team, click here for a free consultation.
