Smallpox Vaccine Injury Compensation (CRS Report for Congress)
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| Release Date |
Revised June 13, 2003 |
| Report Number |
RL31960 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Susan Thaul, Domestic Social Policy Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
| Older Revisions |
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Summary:
Four and a half months after announcing his decision to vaccinate military personnel and
front-line
civilian health workers against smallpox, President George W. Bush, on April 30, 2003, signed the
Smallpox Emergency Personnel Protection Act of 2003 ( P.L. 108-20 ). Under the new law, the
federal government will provide -- to eligible individuals (or their survivors), for covered injuries
-- payment for related medical care, lost employment income, and death benefits.
Compensation had emerged as a major obstacle to the successful implementation of the
Administration's smallpox vaccination program. Worker groups, public health experts, and others
cited the lack of a clear and comprehensive compensation program as a primary reason for the lower
than expected volunteer vaccination rate among health care workers.
The enacted legislation is modeled after the Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program. It
provides for compensation of individuals injured by vaccinations given as part of a countermeasure
plan declared by the Secretary of Health and Human Services in preparation for potential hostile
activities involving the smallpox virus.
This report will be updated as warranted.
