Robert F Kennedy Jr, the US Health and Human Services secretary, has pledged to 'fix' the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP), which provides financial aid to people who suffer rare side effects from vaccines. However, experts warn that his proposed changes could destabilise the vaccine market and reduce access to vaccines.
Kennedy, a long-time anti-vaccine activist, has suggested making it easier to claim compensation or even abolishing the programme entirely. Anna Kirkland, a professor at the University of Michigan, said he 'seems to be pursuing two opposite theories' – either expanding compensation or dismantling the system. Art Caplan of New York University described the moves as part of 'the war on vaccines that he’s been waging for decades'.
The VICP was established in 1986 after a wave of litigation caused vaccine manufacturers to leave the US market, reducing the number of companies from 18 to four. Dorit Reiss, a law professor at the University of California, warned that changes could lead manufacturers to 'pull out of the market' again, making vaccines less accessible. Caplan added that even if vaccines remain available, undermining trust in science could reduce uptake.
Kennedy has mentioned two specific actions: adding discovery to claims and clearing the backlog. However, the number of special masters who adjudicate claims is set by Congress, limiting his direct control. He is also working with the Department of Justice, which could influence how cases are contested. A bill to abolish the VICP entirely, introduced by Republican Representative Paul Gosar, has gained traction in anti-vaccine circles and features a quote from Kennedy.
Experts caution that drastic changes could expose vaccine makers to more litigation, making it harder to keep existing vaccines on the market or develop new ones. 'Undoing VICP might mean there’s no vaccines available,' Reiss said. The HHS has not responded to questions about Kennedy's specific plans or his knowledge of the use of his quote in support of the abolition bill.
