Vaccine injury is a term used in both medicine and law to designate alleged injuries sustained by individuals subsequent to having been vaccinated. An apparent increase in vaccine injuries in recent decades, corresponding to a significant rise in the number of mandated vaccines administered to children, has led to collateral increases in lawsuits against vaccine manufacturers and repeated threats by manufacturers to discontinue vaccine production.[1] Numerous legislative bills have been introduced in the United States to shield pharmaceutical companies from liabilities stemming from vaccine injury claims. Globally, billions of dollars have been paid out to the families of alleged victims, and potential cumulative liability many times that amount has been estimated. Medicine is the branch of health science and the sector of public life concerned with maintaining human health or restoring it through the treatment of disease and injury. ... Law (from the Old Norse lagu) in politics and jurisprudence, is a set of rules or norms of conduct which mandate, proscribe or permit specified relationships among people and organizations, intended to provide methods for ensuring the impartial treatment of such people, and provide punishments of/for those who do... A vaccine is an antigenic preparation used to produce active immunity to a disease, in order to prevent or ameliorate the effects of infection by any natural or wild strain of the organism. ... A vaccine is an antigenic preparation used to produce active immunity to a disease, in order to prevent or ameliorate the effects of infection by any natural or wild strain of the organism. ... Pharmacology (in Greek: pharmacon is drug, and logos is science) is the study of how chemical substances interfere with living systems. ... In the most general sense, a liability is anything that is a hindrance, or puts one at a disadvantage. ...

Risk/benefit equation

Health authorities credit vaccines for decline of various diseases, such as smallpox, and routinely provide broad assurances of their safety and effectiveness. The expected benefits of vaccines, to protect individuals and safeguard public health from the spread of infectious diseases, are derived from the theoretical notion of herd immunity. Many studies published in the world’s leading medical journals have documented vaccine failures and serious adverse vaccine events. Critics of widespread vaccination point out allegedly serious flaws in immunization theory and practice. However, most pediatricians and parents are unaware of these minority viewpoints not accepted by the mainstream medical community. [2] Smallpox (also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera) is a highly contagious disease unique to humans. ... Public health is concerned with threats to the overall health of a community based on population health analysis. ... A disease is any condition of the body or mind that causes discomfort, dysfunction, or distress to the person afflicted or those in contact with the person. ... The effectiveness of a vaccine depends, amongst other things, on the percentage of the population which has received it and is still within the period of protection offered by that vaccine. ... Immunization, or immunisation, is the process by which an individual is exposed to an agent that is designed to fortify his or her immune system against that agent. ... Pediatrics (also spelled paediatrics or pædiatrics) is the branch of medicine that deals with the medical care of infants and children. ...

In 1998, widespread concerns about the potential link between MMR vaccines and autistic spectrum disorders first became well known after the publication of a controversial paper, by Dr. Andrew Wakefield, et al, in the Lancet. This described an alleged novel inflammatory bowel disease, later named autistic enterocolitis by Wakefield. The interpretatin of this link, however, was later retracted. Other medical professionals, including Bernard Rimland, had earlier expressed concerns about the possible relationship between vaccine injuries and an increased prevalence of autism diagnoses. 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... The MMR vaccine is a mixture of live but attenuated viruses, administered via injection for immunization against measles, mumps and rubella. ... The autistic spectrum, or autism spectrum, is the idea that autism is a developmental and behavioral syndrome that results from certain combinations of traits. ... Dr. Andrew Wakefield (born 1957 in the United Kingdom) is a Canadian trained gastroenterologist, best known as the lead author of a controversial 1998 research study, published in the Lancet, which reported bowel symptoms in a selected sample of 12 children with autistic spectrum disorders, and claimed a possible connection... Lancet may refer to: A lancet is a medical instrument, similar to a scalpel but with a double-edged blade. ... Autistic enterocolitis is a controversial condition first reported by British gastroenterologist Dr. Andrew Wakefield to describe a number of common clinical symptoms and signs which he contends is distinctive to autism. ... Bernard Rimland, Ph. ...

United States

According to vaccine critic and alternative medicine proponent Dr. Joseph Mercola, "It seems that one of the most effective strategies for ending this nightmare of autism caused by mercury and vaccines will be through legal actions. The drug companies need to be held accountable for selling products that may be causing damage.[3] Autism is classified as a neurodevelopmental disorder that manifests itself in markedly abnormal social interaction, communication ability, patterns of interests, and patterns of behavior. ...

VICP

In 1988, the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) was established to compensate victims, protect vaccine manufacturers and health care personnel from liability resulting from vaccine injuries and deaths. It is a no-fault alternative dispute resolution system for resolving vaccine injury claims. The VICP covers all vaccines listed on the vaccine schedule recommended by the Centers for Disease Control for children.[4] VICP claims must be filed within three years of the onset of symptoms, four years of the date of the injury, or within two years of death, whichever is first. 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII in Roman) was a leap year starting on a Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... No fault insurance is a type of automobile insurance where an insured need only prove that they were injured in an automobile accident (either damage to persons or damage to property) to recover under the policy. ... This article is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta is recognized as the lead United States agency for protecting the public health and safety of people by providing credible information to enhance health decisions, and promoting health through strong partnerships with state health departments and other organizations. ...

Although "reasonable efforts to inform the public of the availability of the Program" are required by law, most parents, teachers, physicians, and many attorneys are unaware of its existence.[5] Physician examining a child A physician is a person who practices medicine. ...

NCVIA

In 1988, the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act (NCVIA) was enacted, ostensibly, "to ensure an adequate supply of vaccines, stabilize vaccine costs, and establish and maintain an accessible and efficient forum for individuals thought to be injured by childhood vaccines." The VICP is administered jointly by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). As of February, 2003, 3,482 vaccine victims have received compensation totaling over $1.4 billion.[6] 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII in Roman) was a leap year starting on a Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act (NCVIA) of 1986 (42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to 300aa-34) was enacted in the United States to reduce the liability of vaccine makers, thereby ensuring a stable market supply, and to provide cost-effective arbitration in cases of possible vaccine injury. ... The United States Department of Health and Human Services, often abbreviated HHS, is a Cabinet department of the United States government with the goal of protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services. ... The United States Court of Federal Claims is an Article I court formed in 1982 as a successor to the Court of Claims. ... The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) is a Cabinet department in the United States government designed to enforce the law and defend the interests of the United States according to the law and to ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

For vaccine injuries sustained after its enactment, the NCVIA allows 'reasonable compensation' for past and future unreimbursable medical, custodial care, and rehabilitation costs, lost earnings, reasonable legal fees, and places a cap of $250,000 for actual and projected pain, suffering and emotional distress. The HHS is represented by the DOJ in hearings before a "special master", who makes initial decision for compensation under the VICP. A special master is appointed by the judges of the Court. Decisions can be appealed to the Court, then to the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and then to the Supreme Court. In law, a special master is an authority appointed by a judge to make sure that judicial orders are actually followed. ... The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the United States Court of International Trade, as well as Article II tribunals such as the United States Court of Federal Claims, the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, the...

VAERS

The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) is a surveillance program administered jointly by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System is a United States program for vaccine safety, co-sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). ... Surveillance is the monitoring of behavior. ... The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States is the government agency responsible for regulating food (human and animal), dietary supplements, drugs (human and animal), cosmetics, medical devices (human and animal), biologics, and blood products in the United States. ... The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta is recognized as the lead United States agency for protecting the public health and safety of people by providing credible information to enhance health decisions, and promoting health through strong partnerships with state health departments and other organizations. ...

VAERS is intended to track adverse events associated with vaccines. VAERS collects and analyzes information from reports of adverse events (possible side effects) that occur after the administration of US licensed vaccines. The program's success in tracking vaccine injuries has been questioned by some, who allege medical practitioners frequently fail to make reports.

VSD

The Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD) is comprised of databases from seeral organizations containing information regarding health outcomes for millions of US citizens and to enhance assessment of vaccine injuries. It was designed to allow for such things as comparisons between vaccinated and unvaccinated populations, and for the identification of possible groups at risk for adverse events. Such studies, which have been called for by investigators such as Dr. Jeff Bradstreet and Dr. Edward Yazbak, might include the Amish, who rarely allow their children to be vaccinated, or the thousands of child patients of Homefirst Health Services, virtually none of whom have received vaccinations. The Vaccine Safety Datalink Project (VSD) was established, in 1990, by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for the study of adverse side effects of vaccines. ... Jeff Bradstreet - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... F. Edward Yazback, M.D., F.A.A.P., is retired pediatrician who writes regularly about autism and vaccines, particularly on websites. ... Amish couple in a horse-drawn buggy in rural Holmes County, Ohio, the site of one of the largest concentrations of Amish in the United States The Amish are a denomination of Anabaptists, found primarily in the United States and Canada, noted for their restrictions on the use of modern... Homefirst Health Services, based in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, is a sizable medical practice and the largest physician and midwife attended homebirth practice in the United States. ...

Dr. Mark Geier and his son David are the only outside researchers who have been allowed to examine the data. The Geiers contend the VSD data shows that children who had been exposed to higher amounts of mercury, from thimerosal containing vaccines (TCVs), were much more likely to receive pervasive developmental disorder diagnoses. The Institute of Medicine and extensive published research refute these findings, and have recommended research funding to be spent elsewhere, while denying other researchers access to the data based on confidentiality concerns. Mark R. Geier, MD, PhD, (b. ... Ethylmercury (sometimes ethyl mercury) is a cation that forms organomercury compounds such as ethylmercury chloride and ethylmercury urea. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Institute of Medicine, a part of the National Academy of Sciences, is an American organization whose purpose is to provide national advice on issues relating to biomedical science, medicine, and health (National Academy of Sciences, n. ...

United Kingdom

In 2003, parents of over 1,000 United Kingdom children diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorders, alleging the MMR vaccine was the culprit, were dealt a major setback by decision by the Legal Services Commission to withdraw legal aid. 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The autistic spectrum, or autism spectrum, is the idea that autism is a developmental and behavioral syndrome that results from certain combinations of traits. ... The Legal Services Commission (LSC) is an executive non-departmental public body that is responsible for legal aid in England and Wales. ...

A former British government medical officer responsible for medical safety decisions has accused the National Health Service (NHS) of "utterly inexplicable complacency" over the MMR vaccine. Dr. Peter Fletcher, former Chief Scientific Officer for the NHS, said he has seen a "steady accumulation of evidence" from scientists worldwide that the measles, mumps and rubella jab is causing brain damage in certain children, and that, if proof arises confirming the MMR causes autism, "the refusal by governments to evaluate the risks properly will make this one of the greatest scandals in medical history."[7] The logo of the NHS for England. ... The MMR vaccine is a mixture of live but attenuated viruses, administered via injection for immunization against measles, mumps and rubella. ... A scandal is a widely publicized incident involving allegations of wrong-doing, disgrace, or moral outrage. ...

VDPS

Under the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS), it is thought that thousands of unsuccessful claims have been made. The maximum payment per claim is currently £100,000. Disabled vaccine injury patients are allowed to file a claim up to the age of 21. The 'disability threshold' before payments are granted is 60%. The scheme covers vaccinations for illnesses such as tetanus, measles, tuberculosis and meningitis C. As of 2005, the British government had paid out £3.5 million to vaccine injury patients since 1997.[8] Tetanus is a serious and often fatal disease caused by the neurotoxin tetanospasmin which is produced by the Gram-positive, obligate anaerobic bacterium Clostridium tetani. ... Tuberculosis (commonly shortened to TB) is an infection caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which most commonly affects the lungs (pulmonary TB) but can also affect the central nervous system (meningitis), lymphatic system, circulatory system (Miliary tuberculosis), genitourinary system, bones and joints. ... Meningitis is inflammation of the membranes (meninges) covering the brain and the spinal cord. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII in Roman) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

See also

• Anti-vaccinationists
• Epidemiology
• David Kirby
• Dan Olmsted

Anti-vaccinationists are those who oppose the practice of vaccination. ... Epidemiology is the scientific study of factors affecting the health and illness of individuals and populations, and serves as the foundation and logic of interventions made in the interest of public health and preventive medicine. ... David Kirby is an investigative journalist based in Brooklyn, New York, a regular contributor to the New York Times since 1998, and author of the 2005 book Evidence of Harm - Mercury in Vaccines and the Autism Epidemic: A Medical Controversy. ... Dan Olmsted is an investigative reporter and senior editor for United Press International (UPI), and the author of the Age of Autism report series. ...

External links

• AltCorp.com - 'Testimony by Dr. Arthur Krigsman MD Before the Committee on Government Reform, US House of Representatives' (June 19, 2002)
• DailyMail.co.uk - 'Former science chief: "MMR fears coming true"', Sue Corrigan, Daily Mail (February 5, 2006)
• FDA.gov - 'Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS)', US Food and Drug Administration
• HRSA.gov - 'National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program' (VICP), Healthcare Systems Bureau
• GWU.edu - 'Vaccine Injury Clinic' (represents families of children seeking compensation for vaccine injuries), George Washington University School of Law
• Heaaling-Arts.org - 'Database of Vaccine Injury: The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS)'
• HHS.gov - 'Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System', U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• LSU.edu - 'Smallpox Vaccine Injury Law Project', Edward P. Richards, Louisiana State University School of Law
• Mercola.com - 'Vaccine Injury Alliance', Dr. Joseph Mercola
• Rense.com - 'Vaccine Injury, Homeland Security And Culpability', Leonard G. Horowitz, DMD, MA, MPH (November 21, 2002)
• Sunderland.ac.uk - 'Autism and Vaccination'
• Spiked-Online.com - 'Medicine on trial: The scandal of lawyers spending millions in legal aid, on research trying to prove that MMR causes autism', Dr Michael Fitzpatrick (December 15, 2003)