Pink Sheet is part of Pharma Intelligence UK Limited

This site is operated by Pharma Intelligence UK Limited, a company registered in England and Wales with company number 13787459 whose registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. The Pharma Intelligence group is owned by Caerus Topco S.à r.l. and all copyright resides with the group.

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use. For high-quality copies or electronic reprints for distribution to colleagues or customers, please call +44 (0) 20 3377 3183

Printed By

UsernamePublicRestriction

VACCINE INJURY COMPENSATION PROGRAM SHOULD BE FUNDED BY MFR. SURCHARGE

Executive Summary

The federal govt. should establish a program to compensate victims of vaccine-related injuries that could be funded "via a surcharge levied on the mfrs. and passed on partially to consumers," the American College of Physicians (ACP) recommended in a just-released position paper. Maintaining that there are "three major beneficiaries of immunization programs -- individuals, society, and vaccine mfrs." -- ACP said "it would seem appropriate that these three beneficiaries should share the costs" of a natl. victims compensation program. "Requiring vaccine mfrs. to fully fund a compensation program would not spread the cost equitably. The surcharge on mfrs. is the most equitable method of funding because all beneficiaries of mass immunizations will be contributing," ACP asserted. "Society as a whole, through the federal govt., could share in the cost by funding the initial phase of the compensation program," the college continued. "Other means of funding such a program include general revenues and increasing the charge for vaccinations." Sen. Hawkins (R-Fla.) introduced legislation (S 2117) last year that would establish a federal program for compensation of vaccine-related injuries. Current childhood immunization programs should be continued, even though there is a problem that "concerns a reduction in the number of firms manufacturing vaccines," ACP said. "Mfrs. have claimed that rising costs and inadequate prices have been a significant factor in the decision to withdraw from vaccine markets." For example, Wyeth recently halted production of its diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, citing rising and prohibitive costs of liability. However, "the inference that mfrs.' reluctance to produce vaccines has been linked to the possibility of liabilities for injuries has not been proved," ACP contended. "Indeed, recent advances in biotechnology may show a marked increase in vaccine production and safety, with decreased liability risks and costs," the college said.

You may also be interested in...



Part D Discount Liability Coming Into Focus: CMS Releases Drug Cost Data

Newly released Medicare Part D data sheds light on the sales hit that branded pharmaceutical manufacturers will face when the coverage gap discount program gets under way in 2011

FDA Skin Infections Guidance Spurs Debate On Endpoint Relevance

FDA appears headed for a showdown with clinicians and the pharmaceutical industry over the proposed new clinical trial endpoints for acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections, the guidance's approach for justifying a non-inferiority margin and proposed changes in the types of patients that should be enrolled in trials

Shire Hopes To Sow Future Deals With $50M Venture Fund

Specialty drug maker Shire has quietly begun scouting deals with a brand-new $50 million venture fund, the latest of several in-house investment arms to launch with their parent company's pipelines, not profits, as the measure of their worth

Latest Headlines
See All
UsernamePublicRestriction

Register

PS007104

Ask The Analyst

Ask the Analyst is free for subscribers.  Submit your question and one of our analysts will be in touch.

Your question has been successfully sent to the email address below and we will get back as soon as possible. my@email.address.

All fields are required.

Please make sure all fields are completed.

Please make sure you have filled out all fields

Please make sure you have filled out all fields

Please enter a valid e-mail address

Please enter a valid Phone Number

Ask your question to our analysts

Cancel