847 - Vaccines 101: The Vaccine Injury Compensation Program

Public Health On Call

About this episode:

Today, in another episode in a series of podcasts exploring vaccine basics from the molecular level to global policy and everything in between: how compensation for most vaccine-related injuries works in the U.S. Serious vaccine injuries are rare, but when they do happen, people can bring their claims to a special court. In today’s episode, Judge Gary Golkiewicz, a “special master” of the United States Court of Federal Claims, talks about how the program works, how often it’s utilized, and what’s needed to help the program improve.

Guest:

Gary Golkiewicz is a litigator and the former Chief Special Master for the United States Court of Federal Claims.

Host:

Dr. Josh Sharfstein is vice dean for public health practice and community engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a faculty member in health policy, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland’s Health Department.

Show links and related content:

• Vaccines 101: The Basics of Vaccines and Vaccination—Public Health On Call (January, 2025)

• Vaccines 101: Vaccine Safety Science—Public Health On Call (January, 2025)

• The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program—Health Resources & Services Administration

• Vaccine Injury Table (pdf)—Health Resources & Services Administration

• Vaccine Claims/Office of Special Masters—United States Court of Federal Claims

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