Covered Vaccines

The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) covers most vaccines routinely given in the U.S.

For a vaccine to be covered, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) must recommend the category of vaccine for routine administration to children or pregnant women, and it must be subject to an excise tax by federal law.

Vaccine Injury Table

The Vaccine Injury Table (PDF - 339 KB) lists injuries and/or conditions associated with some covered vaccines.

If the first symptom of these injuries and/or conditions occurs within the specified time periods and the injury meets the definition included in the Table, it is presumed that the vaccine caused the injury or condition unless another cause is proven. This applies even if a covered vaccine is administered "off-label" or contrary to CDC or Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices recommendations.

If your injury and/or condition is not on the Table, or if your injury and/or condition does not meet the Table requirements, you must prove through evidence such as expert witness testimony, medical records, or medical opinion that the vaccine caused the injury and/or condition.

Vaccine Information Statements & covered vaccines

Prior to vaccination, individuals (or their parents and/or legal representatives) receive Vaccine Information Statements (VIS) prior to getting the vaccine. The VIS contains information about the disease(s) prevented by the vaccine.

Covered vaccines and Vaccine Information Statements (VIS):

• Diphtheria (e.g., DTP, DTaP, Tdap, DT, Td, TT)
• Haemophilus influenza type b polysaccharide conjugate vaccines (e.g., Hib)
• Hepatitis A (e.g., HAV)
• Hepatitis B (e.g., HBV)
• Human papillomavirus (e.g., HPV)
• Seasonal influenza (e.g., Flu)
  Note: Non-Seasonal Flu Vaccines are not VICP-covered vaccines.
  More details

  The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program covers all seasonal influenza vaccines, including trivalent and quadrivalent influenza vaccines. This is the vaccine given each year and commonly called the flu shot.

  The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program does not cover other non-seasonal influenza vaccines that are used in connection with a pandemic, such as the H1N1 monovalent vaccine that was administered in 2009 during a worldwide outbreak of H1N1 or bird flu. Some non-seasonal influenza vaccines, however, are covered by the Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program (CICP).

  If you receive both the seasonal flu vaccine and certain non-seasonal influenza vaccine and suffer a serious injury, you can file a claim with either the VICP or the CICP or with both programs. Your eligibility to receive compensation from either or both programs depends on the specifics of your claim.

  Seasonal Flu Vaccine and Children

  Children and adults who receive a seasonal influenza vaccine and are thought to be injured may file a petition with the VICP even if the vaccine administered is licensed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) exclusively for adults.

• Measles (e.g., MMR)
• Mumps (e.g., MMR, MR, M)
• Meningococcal (e.g., MCV4, MPSV4, MenB-FHbp, MenB-4C)
  Note: All other formulations of meningococcal vaccines, such as vaccines produced by recombinant DNA technology, are covered under the VICP in otherwise eligible individuals.
• Pertussis (e.g., DTP, DTaP, Tdap)
• Pneumococcal conjugate (e.g., PCV)
  Note: Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV, PPV) is not a VICP-covered vaccine.
• Polio (e.g., OPV or IPV)
• Rotavirus (e.g., RV)
• Rubella (e.g., MMR, MR, R)
• Tetanus (e.g., Td)
• Varicella (e.g., VAR)

Note: Herpes zoster (shingles) vaccine is not a VICP-covered vaccine.

Frequently asked questions

For more information, read the FAQs.