An Introduction to the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) and the Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program (CICP)

The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) is a program that was born out of the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act (NCVIA) enacted by Congress in 1986. With a few exceptions that will be discussed in this presentation, the VICP is the sole avenue for obtaining compensation from vaccine injuries from routinely administered vaccines. While the VICP is a no-fault program, the Respondent in all VICP cases is the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and they are represented in each VICP case by attorneys from the U.S. Department of Justice. Injuries from COVID-19 vaccines are currently handled by a different program called the Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program (CICP). This presentation will briefly discuss the CICP and note the differences between the VICP and CICP. While this is an introduction to these two programs, several important practice tips will be given throughout the presentation.

Learning Objectives:

1. Review the history and creation of the VICP and CICP

2. Discuss what makes a petitioner eligible to file a claim in the VICP and CICP

3. Analyze On-Table vs. Off-Table injuries in the VICP

4. Identify the type of records needed in a VICP and CICP case

5. Identify the differences in the VICP and CICP programs