The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released a proposed rule that would establish an injury table for those affected by the COVID-19 vaccine.
“This proposed rule would establish the COVID-19 Countermeasures Injury Table for the Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program (CICP). The Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act) authorized the Secretary of HHS to establish the CICP to provide benefits to certain persons who sustain serious physical injury or death as a direct result of the administration or use of covered countermeasures identified by the Secretary in declarations issued under the PREP Act,” the rule abstract states. “In addition, the Secretary may provide death benefits to certain survivors of individuals who died as a direct result of covered injuries or their health complications.”
“The Table will list and explain injuries that, based on compelling, reliable, valid, medical, and scientific evidence, are presumed to be caused by covered COVID-19 countermeasures, and set forth the time periods in which the onset of these injuries must occur after the administration or use of these covered COVID-19 countermeasures,” it adds.
The proposed rule comes as HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. terminated emergency-use authorizations for COVID-19-related drugs and products. “Americans deserve a regulatory system that is transparent, accountable, and rooted in the rule of law,” Kennedy said. “By ending these COVID-19 emergency use authorization declarations, we’re reinforcing public confidence that emergency authorities are temporary and targeted.”
The emergency declarations were first issued in 2020 to support access to medical products during the COVID-19 pandemic.
