According to CDC Director Steve Hsu-Sung Kuo, the idea came up as the H1N1 epidemic continues to spread while the number of people receiving the new vaccine dwindles; reports of stillbirths during pregnancy and even deaths of the immunized have caused fear and discouragement among the public. According to CDC statistics, only 21 percent of the nation's people have been vaccinated. The disease center said the inoculation program has yet to achieve mass immunity as people continue to avoid the shots at the expense of their own health.

Two New Cases of Hospitalized H1N1 Patients

Two new cases of H1N1 victims were reported yesterday, bring the total to over 831 cases of H1N1 hospitalization, among which 35 deaths have resulted. Although the epidemic continues to heat up, vaccination visits have reached a standstill; up until last Friday, only an average of 46,000 people per day received injections.

According to Kuo, an average of 150,000 people per day were vaccinated when the program first kicked off. At the current rate, Kuo said that epidemic prevention agencies have become worried that a mass immunity effect will not take place. However, Kuo emphasized that the CDC, “did not want to threaten people with the epidemic” and that it's imperative was to clarify and assuage public concerns of adverse reactions to the vaccine.

NT$2 Mil. Relief Fund to Increase

To rebuild public confidence in the vaccine, Kuo proposed to increase the relief fund for the post-inoculated; The current maximum amount of NT$2 million in victim relief funds will likely be raised.

Currently, the fund provides relief only to those identified with injuries directly related to the vaccine. It also covers NT$300,000 for the cost of funerals or autopsies performed after a person has passed away in a suspected, inoculation-related death.

Kuo said that the CDC is considering increasing the payment as well as the types of relief covered. The CDC is also considering the addition of human right activists and social justice proponents to the review team for the Compensation of Vaccine Injury, which currently consists of medical industry insiders.

Problems With Updating the Fund

The Compensation Fund for Vaccine Injury has been operative for 20 years. Although the current system worked well, Kuo stated that “it has not been re-adjusted to present circumstances” as public fears of the new immunization has reached new heights.

At present time, there have been 31 cases of relief applications for adverse reactions, of which eight have been reviewed and found to have nothing to do with the vaccines. The negative findings have also come under criticism from the skeptic public.

In order to quell controversy, Kuo reiterated that the CDC has recently invited scholars and experts to discuss and make a comprehensive review of the existing relief system.

In response to arguments that victims will be compensated even if the outcome of reviews revealed that their injuries had nothing to do with the vaccine, Kuo said that the details will be up for discussion.

As for the increasing the amount of relief fund, Department of Health (DOH) Minister Yaung Chi-liang, who serves as chief of the Central Epidemic Command Center, said “I do not have the final say.”

Yaung said that the vaccine relief is allotted in accordance with the Communicable Disease Control Act and involves the finances of backing companies, which often have a standardized rate.

At this stage, those that can be identified as vaccine-related injuries are able to get relief but there is no standard for those which cannot. Yaung said that the vaccine relief system has been in operation for 20 years and can be reviewed.

Kuo believed that a relaxation of the conditions of relief may lead to many problems — such as propelling completely healthy people to apply for aid — hence the CDC will listen to the recommendations of experts and scholars to set the threshold and details. “The integrity of the system is very important,” he added.