What Is the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP)?

What Is the VICP?

The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) is a federal program created by the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986. It was designed to ensure that people injured by covered vaccines have a fair, efficient system for seeking compensation — without having to sue vaccine manufacturers directly.

Claims are filed in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, sometimes called the "Vaccine Court." Unlike traditional lawsuits, the VICP operates under a no-fault standard for many injuries.

Who Administers It?

The VICP is administered jointly by three federal agencies: - The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) - The Department of Justice (DOJ) - The U.S. Court of Federal Claims

What Vaccines Are Covered?

The VICP covers vaccines that are routinely recommended for children by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), plus those recommended for pregnant women. Examples include:

• Influenza (flu)
• MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
• Varicella (chickenpox)
• Hepatitis A and B
• HPV
• Tdap and DTaP
• Polio (IPV)
• Meningococcal
• And others listed on the Vaccine Injury Table

The Vaccine Injury Table

The VICP maintains a Vaccine Injury Table — a list of specific vaccines and the injuries or conditions presumed to be caused by them. If your injury appears on this table and meets the timeframe criteria, you may qualify for compensation without having to prove causation.

Off-table injuries can also be compensated, but require more evidence showing the vaccine more likely than not caused the condition.

What Can You Be Compensated For?

Compensation under the VICP can include: - Medical expenses (past and future) - Lost earnings - Pain and suffering (capped at $250,000) - Death benefits

Filing Deadline

Claims must generally be filed within **36 months** of the first symptom of the vaccine injury. This deadline is strict — do not delay if you believe you may have a claim.

Next Steps

If you believe a vaccine caused your injury, the first step is understanding whether your situation may qualify. Use our free eligibility form to get started.