RFK Jr.'s HHS launches initiative to find evidence of vaccine injuries

Federal Initiative on Vaccine Injuries

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), led by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has launched a federal initiative to investigate alleged vaccine-related injuries. This effort was detailed in a press announcement on Thursday, outlining four key components.

New NIH Clinic Established

A new clinic at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is a central part of this initiative. The clinic is dedicated to studying and providing care for patients experiencing health issues following vaccination. Although publicly announced recently, the clinic began operations on October 5, with Kennedy Jr. and other Trump administration officials attending a private ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Reimbursement for VAERS Reporting

Another aspect of the initiative is a proposal to compensate doctors for submitting reports of possible vaccine injuries to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). VAERS, managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is designed as an early warning system for potential safety concerns, allowing anyone to submit unvetted reports. The CDC continuously monitors these reports, with most found not to be vaccine-related.

Reducing Reporting Barriers

HHS stated that reimbursing doctors for VAERS reports aims to reduce barriers to physician reporting and encourage healthcare professionals to document suspected adverse events. The specific mechanism for doctor payment was not detailed in the announcement, but The New York Times reported that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) might introduce a new billing code for this purpose.