Vaccine injury fund likely to increase: CDC

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.

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