Individuals injured by the hepatitis A vaccine will be eligible for compensation under HRSA's National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP), effective December 1, 2004.

Hepatitis A, a liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus, is the most common type of hepatitis reported in the United States, with an estimated 125,000 to 200,000 cases each year. The disease can be spread from person to person, usually after exposure to contaminated food or water.

The hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for children in certain states and communities with high incidence of the disease, for people with certain chronic diseases, or for those traveling to countries where the disease is common. Most people who receive the Hepatitis A vaccine experience no serious problems.

To be eligible for compensation, claims must be filed:

• within three years after the first symptoms of the vaccine injury; or
• within two years of the vaccine-related death; and
• not more than four years after the start of the first symptom of the vaccine-related injury from which the death occurred.
  

In addition, people who believe that they have been injured by the hepatitis A vaccine have two years from the date the vaccine is covered to file a claim for injuries or deaths that occurred up to eight years before the date the vaccine is covered. For the hepatitis A vaccine, claims have to be filed by December 1, 2006, for injuries or deaths that occurred on or after December 1, 1996.

The VICP, created by Congress in 1986 as an alternative to traditional civil litigation, provides financial compensation to eligible individuals thought to be injured by vaccines. It allows compensation for past and future medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost wages. In addition, compensation may also be awarded for attorneys' fees and costs.

To access the Federal Register notice announcing coverage of the hepatitis A vaccine under the VICP, to file a claim, or to obtain more information on the program, visit http://www.hrsa.gov/vaccinecompensation/ or call 1-800-338-2382.