According to the September 1, 2020 Data & Statistics report from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the total compensation awarded under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) has now surpassed $4 billion. This milestone comes as 2020 is on pace to have the highest total amount of compensation awarded since the VICP’s establishment in 1988.
2020 May Be a Record Year Under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program
As of September 1, 2020, the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program had awarded just over $175 million to 652 claimants. This is just one less than the total number of awards issued in all of 2019. If the last four months of the year see similar figures, 2020 will have the highest number of compensation awards and the highest total amount of compensation in the VICP’s 32-year history.
This is significant for a couple of reasons. First, neither the number of awards nor the amount of compensation awarded under the VICP has maintained an upward trajectory. For example, after peaking at 136 awards in 2000 (totaling just under $126 million in compensation), the number of payments issued under the VICP did not surpass 100 again until 2008. The number of successful cases then increased to 706 in 2017 (totaling approximately $252 million in compensation) before dropping to 521 in 2018 and rising again to 653 in 2019.
Second, the recent rise in successful claims suggests that awareness of the VICP may be growing. Despite offering much-needed compensation to individuals and families coping with the effects of vaccine injuries, and despite being endowed with billions of dollars in federal funds, the VICP remains relatively unknown. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 30,000 “adverse events” related to vaccinations are reported each year. Yet, each year only about 1,200 people file claims under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.
Do You Have a Claim Under the VICP?
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a vaccine-related injury or illness, you may be entitled to financial compensation under the VICP. To find out if you have a claim, you should speak with a vaccine attorney promptly. There are strict deadlines that apply to VICP claims; and, in order to protect your right to compensation, it will be important for you to avoid mistakes that could jeopardize your financial recovery.
The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program provides coverage for injuries and illnesses resulting from CDC-recommended vaccinations. This includes (but is not limited to) common vaccines such as:
For more information about the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, you can read: 5 Things to Know if You Have Suffered a Vaccine Injury.
Discuss Your VICP Claim with Vaccine Attorney Leah V. Durant
If you would like to speak with a vaccine attorney about filing a claim under the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, we encourage you to get in touch. To schedule a free, no-obligation consultation as soon as possible, call 202-800-1711 or contact us online today.
Leah Durant Bio
Experienced litigation attorney Leah Durant focuses on representing clients in complex vaccine litigation matters. Leah Durant is the owner and principal attorney of the Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, a litigation firm based in Washington, DC. Leah Durant and her staff represent clients and their families who suffer from vaccine-related injuries, adverse vaccine reactions and vaccine-related deaths. The Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC is dedicated to assisting individuals in recovering the highest level of compensation as quickly and efficiently as possible. To learn more, contact vaccine attorney Leah Durant today.