Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) Claims

The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) is a federal no-fault alternative to suing in regular court1. Petitions are filed in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, which makes the final decision1. It covers specific vaccines, has strict deadlines and pays attorneys' fees separately, so a VICP claim works very differently from a typical injury lawsuit2. A VICP lawyer starts with the vaccine, the date and the first symptom.

How the VICP works

The program is run by HRSA, part of HHS. The Department of Justice represents HHS, and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims makes the final decision1. You file a petition with the court and send a copy to HHS3. It is not a lawsuit against a vaccine maker, and it is not a mass tort.

• No-fault: you do not have to prove anyone was careless1
• A Vaccine Injury Table lists injuries presumed to be caused by certain vaccines within set time frames
• Injuries not on the Table can still be compensated with medical proof of causation
• To qualify, effects generally must last more than six months, or require a hospital stay and surgery, or result in death4

VICP by the numbers (as of Oct. 1, 2026)

Petitions filed since 1988

30,3225

Found compensable

13,4645

Total paid

About $5.6 billion5

Which vaccines the VICP covers

A vaccine is covered if CDC recommends it for routine use in children or pregnant women and it is subject to a federal excise tax6. Covered vaccines include those for6:

• Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis
• Measles, mumps and rubella
• Polio
• Hepatitis A and B
• Hib
• HPV
• Seasonal flu
• Meningococcal disease
• Pneumococcal disease (conjugate)
• Rotavirus
• Chickenpox (varicella)

Adults who get a covered vaccine can file too. Some vaccines are not covered, including pneumococcal polysaccharide, shingles (herpes zoster) and non-seasonal flu vaccines6.

VICP filing deadlines

These deadlines are set by federal law and are much shorter than many injury deadlines4:

• Injury: within three years after the first symptom or onset, or significant worsening, of the injury
• Death: within two years of the death and within four years of the first symptom of the injury that led to it
• When the Table changes: two years from the change, for injuries up to eight years before it

The clock starts with the first symptom, not the diagnosis. Contact a VICP attorney as soon as you can.

Tell Us Your Story →

How VICP attorneys are paid

Attorneys in the VICP are paid by the program directly. By statute, they may not charge any other fee, including a contingency fee2. The court generally awards reasonable fees and costs when a petition is filed in good faith and on a reasonable basis3.

Suing a vaccine maker

You must go through the VICP first. A person can file a civil lawsuit only after withdrawing the petition or rejecting the court's judgment, with a narrow exception for small claims7. That path has its own limits.

Who may have a VICP claim

• The vaccine given, the date and where
• The first symptom and when it started
• The diagnosis and treatment that followed
• Whether effects lasted more than six months
• For a death, the date and the medical records

Records that help a VICP review

Records worth gathering

Vaccine

• Vaccination record with lot number
• Pharmacy or clinic record
• Any VAERS report

Medical

• Records from before the vaccine
• ER and specialist records
• Records of first symptoms

Impact

• Ongoing treatment
• Bills and insurance statements
• Work or school records

What happens after you contact CBW Law

How a review works

1. Tell us what happened

   Tell us about the vaccine and the first symptoms. You do not need every record first.

2. We check coverage and timing

   We confirm the vaccine is covered and work out the filing deadline from the first symptom.

3. We gather records

   With your permission, we request pharmacy, medical and billing records from the places that treated you.

4. We explain what we see

   We tell you what the records show, what questions remain and what options may be open, including deadlines.

The VICP exists so that people injured by covered vaccines can seek compensation without proving fault.

Plain English

Medical, Health & Insurance

Terms you may see in a VICP case.

Program terms

VICP

The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program1.

Petition

The filing that starts a VICP claim in the Court of Federal Claims3.

Vaccine Injury Table

A list of injuries presumed caused by certain vaccines within set time frames.

Medical terms

Onset

When the first symptom appears; it starts the filing clock4.

Lot number

The batch code on a vaccine record.

Other programs

CICP

The separate program for COVID-19 vaccines and other countermeasures8.

VAERS

The national system for reporting possible vaccine side effects.

Questions

VICP and vaccine injury questions

Short answers to the questions people ask first.

What is vaccine court?

People often call the VICP "vaccine court." Petitions are decided in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.

Do I have to prove someone was at fault?

No. The VICP is a no-fault program.

How much does a VICP lawyer cost?

Attorneys are paid by the program and may not charge you any other fee, including a contingency fee.

How long do I have to file a VICP claim?

Generally three years from the first symptom of the injury, or for a death, two years from the death and four years from the first symptom.

Is the COVID-19 vaccine covered?

No. COVID-19 vaccines are covered by the CICP, which has a one-year deadline.

Are adult vaccines covered?

Yes, if the vaccine is a covered one. Shingles vaccines are not covered.

Can I sue the vaccine maker instead?

Only after going through the VICP first, with narrow exceptions.

What if my injury is not on the Table?

You can still file, but you must show the vaccine caused it with medical evidence.

Does the injury have to be serious?

Generally, effects must last more than six months, or involve a hospital stay and surgery, or result in death.

What does it cost to contact CBW Law?

Telling us your story costs nothing, and contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Tell Us Your Story

If a covered vaccine was followed by a serious injury or a death, a VICP attorney can check coverage and your deadline right away.

Tell us what happened. CBW Law will review your information and explain what we see. Submitting information does not establish an attorney-client relationship or guarantee representation.

Tell Us Your Story →Call (800) 476-2416

This page is general information about the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. It is not legal or medical advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. This page does not suggest that vaccines are unsafe or that anyone avoid recommended vaccination. VICP deadlines are strict, and no outcome can be promised.