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November 18, 2002

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Politicizing Vaccines"

Wall Street Journal (www.wsj.com) (11/18/02)

Some Democrats are objecting to the idea of offering vaccine-production companies liability protection for vaccines, according to an editorial in the Wall Street Journal.  Specifically, they are objecting to a liability protection measure that has been included in the new homeland security legislation.  The Democrats' objections are based on the mercury-based vaccine preservative thimerosal; it is no longer in favor, but it has been blamed for causing problems like neurological disorders, and as of June, there were 68 thimerosal lawsuits filed against vaccine makers, including 11 class action suits.  In the mid-1980s, Congress created the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program to protect the few companies still in the vaccine business--a no-fault alternative to the tort system that had to come before a lawsuit.  The tort bar has been trying to get past the program, and further lawsuits could jeopardize the stable supply of vaccines, the editors assert.

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