Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is preparing sweeping changes to the federal vaccine injury compensation system, alarming experts who warn his approach could spark lawsuits, strain the courts, and jeopardize vaccine availability.
Christina Jewett and Apoorva Mandavilli report for The New York Times.
In short:
- The Vaccine Injury Compensation Program was created in 1986 to shield vaccine makers from litigation while compensating people harmed by vaccines, but it is slow, understaffed, and backlogged.
- Kennedy has suggested adding conditions like autism to the official injury list despite a lack of scientific evidence; this could vastly expand claims and costs, while also moving thousands of pending COVID-19 vaccine claims into the system.
- Critics warn these changes could overwhelm the court, lead to manufacturers leaving the market, and ultimately reduce access to vaccines.
Key quote:
“He’s talking about opening a can of worms that could result in Americans losing access to some vaccines and huge expenditures in court fees.”
— Thomas R. Frieden, former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Why this matters:
Vaccines are a cornerstone of modern public health, preventing illnesses that once caused widespread death and disability. Changes that make it easier to claim vaccine injury without strong scientific evidence could flood the system, drive up costs, and deter manufacturers from producing shots. That, in turn, risks lowering vaccination rates, leaving communities vulnerable to outbreaks of preventable diseases.
Related: Kennedy-aligned vaccine panel withdraws support for flu shots with thimerosal: What is it?
