Prognosis
The Rush for a Vaccine Leaves Little Recourse for Anyone It Harms
- U.S. protected drugmakers without dedicated funds for injuries
- Vaccines, while generally safe, can trigger immune reactions
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Americans who suffer adverse reactions to coronavirus vaccines that the U.S. is racing to develop will have a hard time getting compensated for injuries from the drugs.
That’s because pandemic-related claims for vaccines will be routed to a rarely used federal program set up to encourage drugmakers to help combat public health emergencies. It spares pharmaceutical and device makers from costly liability lawsuits in exchange for taxpayers compensating injured patients -- though it doesn’t guarantee there’s funding to do so.