The U.S. government has recently made compensation payments to two individuals who experienced heart inflammation following COVID-19 vaccinations, as part of the Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program (CICP) administered by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). These payments were disclosed in the latest update, reflecting data as of October 1st.
Both recipients suffered from myocarditis, a form of heart inflammation, after receiving their COVID-19 shots. While HRSA has not specified which vaccines were administered, one person received $4,183, and the other received $4,934.
Despite these payments, critics argue that they fall significantly short in addressing the broader issue of vaccine-related injuries. Brianne Dressen, co-founder of React19, a non-profit established to support individuals harmed by COVID-19 vaccinations, emphasized that over almost three years of vaccine roll-out, the U.S. government has disbursed approximately $18,000 in total to just six individuals. This, she contends, underscores a lack of prioritization for addressing vaccine-related collateral damage.
React19, in contrast, has provided $750,000 in compensation to affected individuals. To date, the CICP has approved payments for six people, with five experiencing myocarditis and one suffering from severe allergic shock (anaphylaxis). The cumulative sum disbursed is $17,711. However, this stands in stark contrast to the 854 rejected claims, while over 10,000 others remain pending.
The inclusion of COVID-19 vaccines in the CICP stems from the national emergency declaration by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) during the Trump administration. This declaration has been extended multiple times, currently set through the end of 2024.
Critics argue that the CICP is an inferior system compared to the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, which covers the majority of vaccines administered in the United States. The latter entails judicial review, while the CICP is solely overseen by the HHS, which includes HRSA.
As per the law, once an emergency is declared by the HHS secretary, countermeasures such as emergency response vaccines fall under the purview of the CICP. The initial declaration was made by then-Health Secretary Alex Azar on February 4, 2020, with subsequent extensions, particularly after President Joe Biden's inauguration. Health Secretary Xavier Becerra further extended it until December 2024.
The CICP offers compensation for medical expenses, lost employment income, and survivor benefits in case of a vaccine-related fatality. Individuals have one year from the date of vaccination to apply for compensation, requiring “compelling, reliable and valid medical and scientific evidence” to substantiate their injury claims.
Even in instances where medical professionals have provided diagnoses and supporting studies, some petitions have been rejected without citing any specific studies, according to records examined by The Epoch Times. This includes the case of Dr. Joel Wallskog, co-chair of React19, who was denied compensation despite a doctor's assessment of a “significant reaction from Moderna COVID vaccination.”
Read more at www.theepochtimes.com
