Mandatory vaccination and no fault vaccine injury compensation schemes: An identification of country-level policies

Abstract

Background: To prevent the spread of infectious diseases, governments have implemented a number of policies, including a range of mandatory vaccination policies. In addition, some governments have implemented no fault vaccine injury compensation schemes as a legal mechanism of recourse for individuals experiencing adverse events following vaccination. We aimed to identify countries with mandatory vaccination policies that also have no fault compensation schemes.

Methods: To identify countries with mandatory childhood vaccination policies, we utilized existing publications, lists and databases, also conducting multiple country searches and policy detail verification. We then investigated compensation schemes for each country with childhood vaccination mandates, using an existing study and database/internet searches.

Results: Of the 62 countries we identified with mandatory childhood vaccination policies, we found evidence that only 7 (11%) had also implemented no fault compensation schemes.

Conclusions: No-fault compensation schemes are one government approach to address unintended consequences of vaccination. Few countries have implemented these schemes, including those with mandatory vaccination policies. Mandatory vaccination invokes a strong need to protect those who fall victim to extremely rare cases of provable no-fault vaccine injury. Countries that mandate childhood vaccination without providing no fault compensation schemes could be seen as abrogating the social contract. This is particularly important when public policies limit parental choice regarding whether to vaccinate.

Keywords: Adverse events; Compensation; Immunization; Mandatory; Policy; Social contract; Vaccination.