Overview of the topic of vaccine injury compensation programmes (VICPs). VICPs are no-fault schemes established to compensate individuals who experience a vaccine-related injury due to the inherent, albeit very low, risks of vaccination. The Note provides information on: (1) The main arguments for and against VICPs according to published research; (2) Where VICPs have been introduced; and (3) Key features of existing VICPs.
Key points
• Globally, 25 jurisdictions have VICPs, 16 of which are in Europe.
• Ireland does not currently have a VICP, although the Government has stated its commitment to introducing one.
• Arguments made in favour of VICPs include: (1) ethical responsibility on behalf of government; (2) that VICPs protect vaccine manufacturers from costly litigation; (3) that VICPs therefore help to ensure vaccine supply; and (4) that VICPs encourage public confidence in vaccines.
• Arguments made against VICPs include: (1) VICPs damage public confidence in vaccines; (2) VICPs are costly to the exchequer; (3) that causality between a vaccine and injury is too difficult to conclusively establish; and (4) that VICPs provide manufacturers with impunity where their product does harm.
• Eligibility for VICPs varies considerably across European countries with some requiring more stringent criteria to be met than others.
• Most of the VICPs in Europe are administered and funded by central government.
• The type of compensation in Europe can vary between lump-sum payments; monetary redress based on medical care costs, loss of earnings; or monetary compensation based on non-monetary criteria such as pain and suffering, and mental distress.
ONCE ESTADOS MIEMBROS : Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Russia, Latvia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
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