The Compensation Gap

14,075 Claims Filed.44 Americans Compensated.A 0.3% Approval Rate.

Americans injured by COVID-19 vaccines face a different compensation system than those injured by flu shots, MMR, or other routine vaccines. The result: a 0.3% approval rate vs. ~49%. This site explains why, and what can be done about it.

0
CICP Claims Filed1
0
Americans Compensated1
0%
CICP Approval Rate1
0%
VICP Approval Rate2

What Happens to a Claim?

Over 14,075 Americans have filed COVID-19 vaccine injury claims with Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program (CICP). Here's what's happened to them so far.

Claims Filed

COVID-19 vaccine injury claims submitted

14,075 Claims
100%
Starting point

Decisions Rendered

Claims reviewed and decided

6,421
45%
of claims decided

Compensated

Actually received payment

0.3%
approval rate
54%
of claims still pending review1
98.6%
of decided claims were denied1
24 mo
average time to decision3

75% of Denials Were Procedural

CICP denied over 6,300 claims. But most weren't denied because the injury wasn't real — they were denied for paperwork reasons that VICP's structure directly solves.

Missed 1-year filing deadline2,533 (39.4%)
VICP allows 5 years + 8-year lookback
Records not submitted2,291 (35.7%)
VICP covers attorney fees for documentation
Standard of proof not met1,251 (19.5%)
VICP uses lower standard + table injuries
Not a covered product259 (4%)
Wrong vaccine category
Found eligible87 (1.4%)
44 actually received payment

Only 19.5% of CICP denials were on the actual medical merits. The rest were procedural barriers — missed deadlines, missing documentation — that VICP eliminates through longer filing windows, attorney representation, and fee coverage.1 See full analysis →

Same Injuries. Different Outcomes.

COVID-19 vaccines use CICP (Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program). Routine vaccines use VICP (Vaccine Injury Compensation Program). The difference in outcomes is staggering.

CICP - COVID-19 Vaccines

44 Paid

of 14,075 claims filed since 2020

0.3%
Approval Rate1
$6.5M
Total Paid1
No judicial review or appeal
No pain & suffering damages
Attorney fees not covered
1-year filing deadline
HHS is judge, jury, and defendant
VICP - Routine Vaccines

12,889 Paid

of ~29,670 claims since 1988

~49%
Approval Rate2
$4.97B
Total Paid2
Federal court with Special Masters
Up to $250K pain & suffering
Attorney fees covered separately
3-year filing deadline
Independent judicial review
⚖️

Under VICP, You Get a Lawyer — and the Program Pays for It

CICP claimants must navigate the system alone. VICP covers reasonable attorney fees separately from your award — meaning legal representation doesn't cost you anything, even if your case is denied. This is the single biggest structural advantage for injured individuals.2

$6.5M

CICP reports $6.5M in total COVID compensation. But one payment tells a very different story.

Total CICP COVID-19 Vaccine Compensation

$6.52 Million
$5.94MONE Payment (91%)
9%
Single TTS Case

One case (Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome) received 91% of all COVID compensation

$5.94M
Everyone Else Combined

43 other compensated individuals split the remaining 9%

$575K

Without the Outlier

Remove that single $5.94M payment and the typical CICP compensation becomes clear. Here's what most injured Americans can actually expect:

Typical CICP Payment
$4,132
COVID-19 median (HRSA Table 4)4
Average VICP Award
$386,000
Lifetime average 1988–2026 (HRSA)2

Payment Comparison

Typical CICP
$4,132
Average VICP
$386,000
Average VICP award is 93× higher than typical CICP payment2,4

What Would You Get?

See the difference in compensation between CICP and VICP for your situation.

Enter Your Details

Adjust the sliders to see your estimated compensation under each program.

CICP (COVID)
$30,000

Estimated Maximum Award

Pain & Suffering: $0
Attorney Fees: Not covered
Only unreimbursed expenses
VICP (If Covered)
$120,000 - $170,000

Estimated Award Range

Pain & Suffering: Up to $250,000
Attorney Fees: Covered separately
Full medical + lost wages
You Could Be Losing
$90,000 - $140,000
Tell Congress: Cover COVID Fairly →

Projected VICP Burden

What would it cost if COVID-19 vaccines were covered under VICP? Adjust the assumptions to see the projected impact.

Adjust Assumptions

Based on historical VICP averages and current CICP claim volume

VICP historical average: ~49%2
VICP lifetime average: ~$386,0002
Current CICP claims filed to date
6,334
Estimated Approved Claims
$2.06B
Estimated Total Cost
46%
% of Trust Fund

Can the Trust Fund Handle It?

Not only can it handle it — it grows. Adjust the assumptions below to see for yourself.

14,075
COVID claims eligible to refile1
3,600
Existing VICP pending cases2
17,675
Total combined backlog
~68 yrs
To clear COVID backlog
1,625/yr
Total capacity (10 masters × ~163 cases)2
1,200/yr
Ongoing VICP filings (FY24: 1,185 / FY25: 1,301)2
218/yr
New vaccine claims (RSV 150 + Shingles 43 + other)5,6
207/yr
Net capacity for backlog clearance

Adjust Assumptions

Current: 8 — Bill requires 10+ — Cost: ~$12.5M/yr (CRS)
Validated estimate: 45%
Validated estimate: $325K
Current Program ($0.75 excise)
In: $308MOut: $373M-$7M/yr deficit
Program is already slightly underwater with COVID + new vaccines2,9
Under Bill ($2.20 excise)
In: $910MOut: $373M+$537M/yr surplus
Trust Fund grows from $4.5B to $12.1B over 10 years
Annual Revenue
$910M
375M doses × $2.20 + interest
Annual Costs
$373M
VICP $275M + COVID $30M + New $55M
=
Annual Surplus
+$537M
Fund grows every year

10-Year Trust Fund Projection

Year 10: $11.2B
$4.5B
Now
$5.0B
Yr 1
$5.6B
Yr 2
$6.2B
Yr 3
$6.8B
Yr 4
$7.5B
Yr 5
$8.2B
Yr 6
$8.9B
Yr 7
$9.6B
Yr 8
$10.4B
Yr 9
$11.2B
Yr 10

The Fund Doesn't Just Survive — It Thrives

Revenue from new vaccine excise taxes (~$73M) more than covers new vaccine claims ($55M). Processing constraints spread COVID liability over ~68 years. See the full financial model →

Contact Your Representatives

Americans injured by COVID-19 vaccines deserve the same fair compensation process as those injured by routine vaccines. Find and contact your representatives.

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