Vaccine Court’s Tough Standards May Face Supreme Court Test
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The U.S. Supreme Court is being asked to decide whether people who suffer harmful vaccine side effects should have an easier time winning compensation from the government.
Congress created what’s known as the vaccine court in 1986, setting up a no-fault system to shield drug makers from crippling jury awards and compensate those who are hurt in the pursuit of a greater public good. The question about how the system works -- and whether more injured parties should get the benefit of the doubt -- is being raised as some contagious diseases including measles resurface and debate rages over whether vaccine skeptics should be allowed to choose not to have their children inoculated.