What's New
The timeframe for people injured by COVID-19 "countermeasures," such as vaccines, to file a claim for compensation is set to be extended under the new government spending bill.
The bill, which is more than 1,500 pages, also permits some previously denied claims to be refiled.
Why It Matters
Individuals who file claims under section 319F–4 of the Public Health Service Act, which created the Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program (CICP), may be eligible for financial compensation if they suffered injuries caused by "countermeasures" including vaccines, during a public health emergency.
The new continuing resolution (CR)—a temporary spending bill that Congress will use to fund the federal government in the short term—extends the deadlines for filing, which under the CICP are set to one year from the date of administered countermeasure that allegedly caused injury.
The bill widens the window for claims, writing that they "shall be filed within 3 years of the administration or use of the covered countermeasure, or 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, whichever is later."
Under the new bill, if it passes—which it is likely to do this week—people would have up until December 2025 to file their claims.
It also states that any claim which was filed and "denied on the basis of having not been filed within the time period required," may be refiled, therefore reopening the claims for some individuals.
The Department of Health and Human Services describes a countermeasure as "a vaccine, medication, device, or other item that is used to prevent, diagnose, or treat public health emergency or a security threat."
Newsweek has reached out to the Health Resource and Services Administration, which is a agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, for comment and confirmation via email on Wednesday.
What to Know
The COVID-19 pandemic was declared a federal public health emergency, but that designation ended in May 2023, even as the virus continues to circulate, and cases have risen this month.
The virus infected millions and took the lives of more than 1.2 million Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
At the time, COVID-19 vaccines, were initially authorized under Emergency Use Authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Vaccinations commenced in December 2020.
COVID-19 vaccines have been controversial and at the center of protests, misinformation, and conspiracy since first being administered in the U.S. four years ago.
Some are skeptical of the vaccine's effectiveness and others believe its contents produce irreparable side effects and have adverse effects. The CDC notes that there have been been incidents of serious reactions to the vaccines, including anaphylaxis and myocarditis, but they are extraordinarily rare.
Vaccine skeptics have filed lawsuits against state and employer vaccine requirements citing religious freedoms and health concerns over the contents of the vaccines. Support for vaccines and vaccine mandates typically fall along partisan lines.
What People Are Saying
Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia told The Hill: "It's not a CR, which is a continuation of the budget. It's turning into an omnibus."
Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in a statement on Tuesday: "With this agreement, we are now on our way to avoiding a government shutdown. In order to finish the job and avert a shutdown, both chambers must continue to work in a bipartisan fashion and put American families first."
What Happens Next
A House vote on whether to approve the spending bill will take place some time this week. If it fails, the government will shut down starting Saturday.
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