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April 11, 2003
U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS
"Lawmakers, White House Agree on Smallpox Compensation"
Washington Post (www.washingtonpost.com) (04/11/03) P. A11; Connolly, Ceci
The White House and congressional Democrats seem to have agreed on a compensation package for those harmed by the smallpox vaccine, forming a tentative agreement whereby anyone permanently disabled by the vaccine would be eligible for as much as $50,000 per year in lost wages, say Senate aides. Those partially disabled would be eligible for annual benefits as well, up to a lifetime maximum of $262,000, and that same amount would be available as death benefits to surviving spouses. Surviving children would get that payment or $50,000 per year until they turn 18. The lack of compensation is held by many to be the reason for the poor response to the call for volunteers for vaccination.
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