Should Australia introduce a vaccine injury compensation scheme?
At least a dozen countries or states in the world have introduced vaccine injury compensation schemes. This paper argues that the Australian Government should introduce such a scheme, which may reduce litigation, and may improve consumer and provider confidence. The most important justification, however, is an ethical argument from justice and equity: introduction of a vaccine injury compensation scheme acknowledges the unique situation that routine childhood immunization is a public health measure, given and accepted in good faith, that may occasionally damage the recipient.
Isaacs
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Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Children's Hospital at Westmead and University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. david@chw.edu.au
D001315:Australia; D035881:Compensation and Redress / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D032541:Mass Vaccination / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence