RFK Jr. Proposes Adding Autism to Vaccine Injury Table

Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has proposed adding autism to the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) table, which allows families to receive payments for vaccine-related injuries without proving fault. He also suggested broadening the definitions of encephalitis and encephalopathy to include autism cases.

Public health experts and legal scholars warn that the proposal contradicts established science and previous legal precedents from the Omnibus Autism Proceedings, which debunked the link between vaccines and autism. Estimates suggest that up to 48,000 children could qualify for compensation immediately, triggering an initial cost of nearly $100 billion and annual costs of $30 billion. These figures far exceed the program's current $4 billion trust.

Critics argue the move is politically motivated and could jeopardize the financial stability of the VICP and the U.S. vaccine supply, potentially echoing a 1980s crisis that nearly drove manufacturers out of the domestic market. A spokesperson for the United States Department of Health and Human Services declined to comment on potential policy decisions, noting the agency does not discuss such changes. Implementation would require a formal notice and comment rulemaking process.