How does the VICP work?
The VICP is administered jointly by the Court, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Department of Justice (DOJ). The process is as follows: a. An individual claiming injury from a vaccine files a petition for compensation with the Court; b. A physician at the Division of Vaccine Injury Compensation, HHS, reviews each petition to determine whether it meets the criteria for compensation. This recommendation is provided to the Court through a report filed by the DOJ, although it is not binding. c. The HHS position is represented by an attorney from the DOJ in hearings before a “special master” who makes the initial decision for compensation under the Program. A special master is an attorney appointed by the judges of the Court. d. Decisions may be appealed to the Court, then to the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals.
