WASHINGTON – On Thursday, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), ranking member of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, sent a letter to Xavier Becerra, the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and Carole Johnson, the administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) regarding the Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program (CICP).  Sen. Johnson requested information regarding the government’s review of compensation claims for injuries connected to the COVID-19 vaccines.

As of April 1, 2023, the CICP has provided $4,634.89 in compensation to individuals who filed COVID-19 vaccine injury claims.  8,133 claims have been filed relating to COVID-19 vaccine injuries or death.

“It is surprising to see such a low number of COVID-19 vaccine CICP claims because according to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, as of March 31, 2023, there have been 1,541,275 adverse events and 35,048 deaths associated with the COVID-19 vaccines,” Sen. Johnson wrote.  The senator asked, “Does HRSA expect an increase in COVID-19 vaccine CICP claims?”

“Although the government appears to be providing very limited compensation to individuals who have filed COVID-19 vaccine injury claims, the process by which HHS evaluates these claims or even advertises the existence of this compensation program remains opaque,” Sen. Johnson noted.

“HHS owes the American people a complete explanation of its administration of the compensation program for individuals who have suffered COVID-19 vaccine injuries,” Sen. Johnson added.

Read more about the letter in the Epoch Times.

The full letter can be found here and below.

 

April 20, 2023

 

The Honorable Xavier Becerra

Secretary

Department of Health and Human Services

200 Independence Ave S.W.

Washington, D.C. 20201

 

Ms. Carole Johnson

Administrator

Health Resources and Services Administration

5600 Fishers Lane

Rockville, MD 20857

 

Dear Secretary Becerra and Administrator Johnson:

 

                I am writing regarding the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) review process for determining who is eligible to receive compensation for COVID-19 vaccine injuries. 

 

HRSA administers the Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program (CICP) which “provides compensation for covered serious injuries or deaths that, based on compelling, reliable, valid, medical and scientific evidence, are found to be directly caused by the administration or use of a covered countermeasure or are determined to meet the requirements of a countermeasure injury table.”[1]  One such countermeasure that is covered by the CICP are the COVID-19 vaccines.[2] 

 

If an individual believes they suffered an injury by a covered countermeasure, such as the COVID-19 vaccines, they can file a claim through the CICP within one year of receiving the vaccine.[3]  According to HRSA, after an individual submits a “Request for Benefits Package, which should include proof of administration or use of a covered countermeasure” as well as complete medical records, then “CICP medical staff will review the package and decide if [the individual] is eligible for program benefits.  If found eligible, [the individual] will be asked to submit additional documentation to determine how much compensation [that person] should receive.”[4]

 

According to CICP data, as of April 1, 2023, 8,133 claims have been filed relating to COVID-19 vaccine injuries or deaths.[5]  CICP staff have apparently identified 22 claims connected to COVID-19 vaccines injuries that are “eligible for compensation and pending benefits determination.”[6]  HRSA reported that one those claims had “no eligible reported expenses.”[7]  The following three claims have been compensated as indicated below:[8]

 

 

According to HRSA, the following table displays 19 COVID-19 vaccine claims that are “eligible for compensation and the program is either waiting for documentation from the requester to determine benefits or benefits determination is in progress.”[9]

 

 

While HRSA publicly lists alleged COVID-19 vaccine injuries, it apparently does not aggregate its data by specific manufacturer.[10]  In order to better understand HRSA’s review process for CICP claims, please provide the following information:

 

1. How would an individual know to file a CICP claim if they believe they were injured from a COVID-19 vaccine?  Has HRSA conducted an advertising campaign about the CICP?  If not, why not?

 

2. It is surprising to see such a low number of COVID-19 vaccine CICP claims because according to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, as of March 31, 2023, there have been 1,541,275 adverse events and 35,048 deaths associated with the COVID-19 vaccines.[11]  Does HRSA expect an increase in COVID-19 vaccine CICP claims? 

 

3. What criteria is necessary for an individual to receive CICP compensation for a COVID-19 vaccine injury?

 

4. Is there a cap on the amount of money an individual can receive as compensation?

 

5. How many HRSA or contracted employees review CICP claims? 

 

6. Provide all records[12] referring or relating to COVID-19 vaccine CICP claims, between and among HHS employees or representatives and employees or representatives of COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers, including but not limited to Pfizer, BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson.
7. Why does the CICP “not maintain its aggregated data concerning alleged countermeasures, including vaccines, by a specific manufacturer”?[13]
8. Does the CICP collect data on vaccine lot numbers associated with filed claims?  If so, please provide the vaccine lot numbers for the 19 COVID-19 vaccine CICP claims listed above. 
9. As of April 1, 2023, HRSA reported that there are 18 CICP claims related to COVID-19 vaccines that are “pending compensation.”[14]  However, HRSA displayed 19 COVID-19 vaccine claims that are “eligible for compensation and the program is either waiting for documentation from the requester to determine benefits or benefits determination is in progress.”[15]  Please clarify the difference in the reported number of CICP claims.
10. When did HRSA receive its first CICP claim regarding an alleged COVID-19 vaccine injury?  When did HRSA receive its first CICP claim regarding an alleged COVID-19 vaccine death?
11. Of the three COVID-19 vaccine CICP claims that have received compensation as of April 2023, please provide the dates for when each claim was filed and the requested amount of compensation for each claim.[16]

 

Please provide this information as soon as possible but no later than May 4, 2023.  Thank you for your attention to this matter.

                                                                                                                                                                               
Sincerely,

 

                                                                                               

 

      Ron Johnson

                                                                                                Ranking Member

                                                                                                Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations

cc:          The Honorable Richard Blumenthal

                Chairman

                Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations

 

                The Honorable Christi A. Grimm

                Inspector General

                Department of Health and Human Services

 

 

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