News Release
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, Mar. 5, 2003 |
Contact: HHS Press Office
(202) 690-6343 |
HHS PROPOSES SMALLPOX VACCINATION COMPENSATION PLAN
HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today proposed a plan to
create a smallpox vaccination compensation program to provide
benefits to public health and medical response team members
who are injured as a result of receiving the smallpox vaccine.
It is based on a similar compensation package that is
currently available to police officers and firefighters.
In December, President Bush announced a plan for public
health and medical response teams to be vaccinated voluntarily
against smallpox as part of an overall effort to better
prepare the nation against terrorism. Smallpox is a disease
that is very contagious and can spread rapidly, so it is
important to have medical response teams prepared to respond
and protect the American people should an outbreak occur.
"I commend all of the public health and medical response
team members who have already volunteered to be vaccinated
against smallpox so we as a nation will be better prepared to
protect the public," Secretary Thompson said. "A smallpox
release is possible and we therefore must prepare by offering
vaccine to those most likely to respond. By preparing our
emergency responders and giving them assistance with this
compensation program, we are better able to protect the
American people, which is our highest priority."
"We are asking these health professionals to perform a
vital public duty, so we are proposing to provide them the
same sort of benefits that we provide our public safety
officers when they are injured on the job," said Dr. Julie
Gerberding, director of the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC). "We are truly grateful for their commitment
and willingness to take part in this vital program."
The proposed compensation program - which the department
will continue to work with Congress on addressing - includes
four elements similar to the benefits package currently
available to police officers and firefighters. Under the
Public Safety Officers Benefit (PSOB) program, administered by
the Department of Justice, the federal government currently
pays a $262,100 death and a $262,100 permanent and total
disability benefit to police officers and firefighters. State
and local governments provide short-term disability benefits
and health care benefits.
The benefits package would be administered by HHS and be
retroactive to cover those who already have been vaccinated
under the program. The four elements of the plan include:
Permanent and total disability benefit: HHS would
create a benefit modeled on the PSOB to offer a $262,100
permanent and total disability benefit for disability caused
by the administration of the vaccine. This benefit would be
paid regardless of other death benefits available to the
individual (except the approximately one-third of first
responders who are already covered by the PSOB).
Death benefit: HHS would create a benefit modeled on
the PSOB to offer a $262,100 death benefit for deaths caused
by administration of the vaccine. This benefit would be paid
regardless of other death benefits available to the individual
(except the approximately one-third of first responders who
are already covered by the PSOB).
Temporary or partial disability benefit: HHS would
compensate individuals for two-thirds of lost wages after the
fifth day from work, up to a maximum of $50,000. This benefit
would be secondary to any workers compensation or disability
insurance benefits that might be available to the individual.
Health care benefit: HHS would compensate
individuals for their reasonable out-of-pocket medical
expenses for other than minor injuries. This benefit would be
secondary to any health insurance benefit that might be
available to the individual.
Additionally, HHS would provide compensation to third
parties who contract vaccinia from public health and medical
response team workers who have been vaccinated.
HHS and CDC are working with state and local governments to
vaccinate health care workers and other crucial personnel - as
part of Smallpox Response Teams - to volunteer to receive the
smallpox vaccine. All states have submitted smallpox response
plans and as of March 4, 45 jurisdictions have vaccinated
nearly 12,404 individuals - up from 7,354 one week earlier and
4,213 two weeks ago.
Pre-attack vaccination of these teams will allow them to
vaccinate the American public in the event of an attack. If
there is a release of smallpox, we will immediately make
vaccine available to the general public. HHS currently has
enough unlicensed vaccine to protect every American. HHS will
have enough licensed vaccine sometime in 2004.
"We do not, however, recommend that the general public get
the vaccine at this time because the risk of the vaccine
outweighs the risk of a potential exposure to smallpox,"
Secretary Thompson said. This compensation plan does not cover
the general public, as it is not recommended that they receive
the vaccine.
The existing smallpox vaccine is very effective in
preventing the disease, but it carries a risk of serious
health consequences - including death in 1 or 2 out of every 1
million people vaccinated. Between 14 and 52 out of every 1
million may experience potentially life-threatening reactions
when given the existing smallpox vaccine.
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Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press
materials are available at
http://www.hhs.gov/news.
Last Revised: March 5, 2003 |
