Immunization Newsbriefs (c) Copyright Information Inc., Bethesda, MD. Brought to you by the National Network for Immunization Information (NNii). Visit NNii's new website at http://www.immunizationinfo.org.
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November 20, 2002
U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS
"Vaccine Liability Protection Stays in U.S. Bill"
Reuters (www.reuters.com) (11/19/02); Richwine, Lisa; Cornwell, Susan
The Homeland Security bill, newly passed by the Senate, includes greater protection for vaccine manufacturers against liability for possible side effects, but some senators say that next year they will remove language that makes the protections retroactive to include existing lawsuits. The legislation equates vaccine ingredients with vaccines with regards to side-effect compensation, which closes a loophole concerning the out-of-favor preservative thimerosal. Complaints would go through a federal fund created in 1986 to compensate those harmed by vaccines before they could go to court. According to Sen. Phil Gramm (R-Texas), although most people agree to a settlement via the fund, individuals who choose not to settle can still file suit in court.
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