Liability of Vaccine Makers
A billboard in Morgantown, W.Va., claims that vaccine makers are "exempt from all liability for vaccine injury and death." However, this statement is exaggerated.
Under federal law, vaccine manufacturers have significant lawsuit protections, including being shielded against suits about design defects.
- These protections are paired with a fund that makes compensation payments to injured parties in lieu of filing a lawsuit.
- Vaccine makers' liability protections are not unlimited, and companies may be sued under certain circumstances.
Companies can be sued if the complaining party rejects the compensation fund's offer, or if negligence and fraud are alleged, or when a company's vaccines are intended for adult use.
Vaccine manufacturers benefit from significant lawsuit protections, but their liability protections are not unlimited.
Author's summary: Vaccine makers have limited liability protections.