SHOULD THE VACCINE INJURY COMPENSATION PROGRAM BE EXPANDED TO COVER ADULTS

In 1996, the National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC) asked for a re view of the pros and cons of including adult influenza and pneumococca l vaccines in the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). The auth ors, as staff to the subcommittees charged with undertaking this asses sment, looked at the following questions: (a) Would inclusion in VICP of these two vaccines, used primarily for adults, increase adult vacci nation levels? (b) Is this Federal involvement warranted based on the liability burden for these vaccines? (c) Does the risk of adverse even ts following vaccinations warrant inclusion of these vaccines? (d) Is there a consensus among stakeholders favoring their inclusion? To addr ess these questions, the authors reviewed information on adult vaccine s, including data on lawsuits filed and reports of injuries, and sough t input from interested groups. They found no evidence that the use of influenza and pneumococcal vaccines would increase if they were inclu ded in VICP. They found a low liability burden for these vaccines, tha t serious adverse events were rare, and that no consensus existed amon g stakeholders. After considering the staff report, NVAC chose, in 199 6, not to advise the Department of Health and Human Services to includ e adult vaccines in VICP.