Understanding the path from filing to decision (COVID-19 vaccines)
Dismissed without merit review due to: missing records (2,772), missed deadline (2,632), non-covered product (416)
Claims reaching substantive review on causality. 100% of these denied on merits (0% approved).
Average case pending 3-5+ years. Rates provisional until final decisions made.
Total COVID-19 vaccine injury claims filed with CICP (as of April 1, 2026)
Dismissed without merit review due to administrative reasons:
Filed after 1-year window. Strict deadline enforced.
Insufficient documentation to establish temporal relationship.
Not an approved COVID-19 vaccine under PREP Act.
Policy insight: 2,632 missed-deadline denials (~35% of all denials) may represent systemic barrier to filing. No extension process available. Clock starts from vaccination, not symptom onset.
Claims reaching causality assessment:
Note: HHS denies all merit-reviewed claims so far. This may indicate: (1) causality evidentiary bar is high, (2) COVID-19 vaccines have low biological plausibility for serious injury, or (3) data still accumulating for rare events.
Claims still in adjudication. Average processing time: 3-5+ years. Final approval rates will shift as these are decided.
| Metric | VICP (All Vaccines) | CICP (COVID-19) |
|---|---|---|
| Total Petitions | ~22,000 (1988-2026) | 7,542 (2020-2026) |
| Approval Rate (Compensable) | ~50% across vaccines | 1.8% (137/7,542) |
| Settlement Rate | ~60% of compensation (no causality determination) | Not applicable (different legal framework) |
| Appeal | U.S. Court of Federal Claims | HHS Secretary only (no federal court) |
| Pain/Suffering Damages | Up to $250,000+ | Not available |
| Legal Framework | National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act (1986) | Public Readiness & Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act |