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April 09, 2003

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Agreement Nears on a Bill to Change Vaccine Liability Law"

Los Angeles Times (www.latimes.com) (04/09/03) P. A26; Anderson, Nick

The U.S. Senate is working on a deal to change a vaccine liability measure that would give manufacturers new protections against lawsuits from plaintiffs who allege they were injured by vaccines or their components. Similar legislation was passed last year but was then repealed when Democrats and some Republicans said it gave some drug companies too large a break.  The new bill has some concessions to Democrats and is one of a number of Republican efforts to limit liability for businesses in civil lawsuits.  Some of those who say they were injured by vaccine components, such as preservatives, have contended that they are entitled to pursue damages outside the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program; however, the new bill would push such cases into the program and raise the cap on damages for pain and suffering.  It would also lengthen the filing deadline.

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