When seeking financial compensation for a vaccine-related injury or illness, you are bound to come across a number of initials and acronyms with which you are unfamiliar. Figuring out what these abbreviations stand for – and how they are relevant to your vaccine injury claim – is one of the first steps toward understanding your legal rights.
Understanding Your Claim for Financial Compensation After a Vaccine Injury
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the federal agency responsible for establishing recommended vaccination schedules and providing the public with information about the risks associated with different types of immunizations. When looking for information about vaccine safety or the side effects associated with vaccine injuries, the CDC’s Vaccines & Immunizations site is a good place to start.
Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS)
Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) is a rare but dangerous illness that has been linked to the flu shot and certain other immunizations. There are a number of acute and chronic variants of GBS, including Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP).
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is the division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) that is responsible for administering the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) and maintaining data on reported vaccine injuries and illnesses.
National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP)
The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) is the federal government program that provides financial compensation to individuals diagnosed with vaccine-related injuries and illnesses. Administered by the HRSA, the VICP has paid nearly $4 billion to vaccine recipients since its establishment in 1988, and it serves as a substitute for filing civil claims against hospitals and pharmaceutical companies.
Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA)
A shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) is a type of vaccine-related injury that results from a mistake during the immunization process. SIRVA is a broad term that encompasses several different types of immunization-related injuries, including adhesive capsulitis (or “frozen shoulder), brachial neuritis, bursitis and tendonitis.
Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS)
The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) is a federal government initiative that tracks vaccine-related injuries and illnesses. While individuals diagnosed with SIRVA, GBS and other medical conditions resulting from immunizations can report their diagnoses through VAERS, in order to recover financial compensation it is necessary to separately file a claim under the VICP.
Vaccine Information Statement (VIS)
A Vaccine Information Statement (VIS) is a federally-mandated document that provides information about the benefits and risks associated with CDC-recommended vaccinations. As explained by the CDC, “VISs explain both the benefits and risks of a vaccine to adult vaccine recipients and the parents or legal representatives of [vaccine recipients] who are children and adolescents. Federal law requires that VISs be handed out whenever certain vaccinations are given (before each dose).”
Discuss Your Claim with Vaccine Attorney Leah V. Durant
Have you been diagnosed with a vaccine-related injury or illness? If so, you may be entitled to financial compensation and no-cost legal representation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). To learn more in a free and confidential consultation, please call (202) 775-9200 or submit your case online today.