Vaccine Injury Claims in the US have reached more than 30,000 petitions since 1988, and the federal program has compensated 13,189 of them for about $5.66 billion through July 1, 2026. On October 8, 2026, HHS announced new injury research and reporting steps, including an NIH clinic, while it drafts a COVID-19 injury table.
Vaccine Injury Claims 2026 – Introduction
Vaccine Injury Claims in the US run through two federal programs. The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) covers 16 routine vaccine types, including flu and childhood shots. The Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program (CICP) covers COVID-19 vaccines. Through July 1, 2026, the VICP had received more than 30,000 petitions and paid about $5.66 billion in total outlays. Claims remain rare against the volume of shots, at roughly 1.9 compensated petitions per million doses distributed from 2006 to 2024.
Policy moved fast this fall. HHS opened an NIH vaccine injury clinic on October 5, 2026 and announced three more reporting steps on October 8. A bipartisan House bill, H.R. 9672, would add COVID-19 vaccines to the VICP and expand the court that hears claims. This report collects the latest verified numbers from HRSA, CDC, FDA, KFF and the Congressional Research Service. A compensation award does not prove a vaccine caused an injury, and each section explains why. Where sources count differently, the report names the source.
Interesting Facts About Vaccine Injury Claims in the US 2026
VICP PETITIONS SINCE 1988, THROUGH JULY 1, 2026
Filed | ██████████████████████████████ 30,000
Adjudicated | ███████████████████████████ 26,508
Compensated | █████████████ 13,189
Dismissed | █████████████ 13,319
| Fact | 2026 Data |
|---|---|
| VICP petitions filed since 1988 | 30,000 |
| Petitions adjudicated | 26,508 |
| Petitions compensated | 13,189 |
| Petitions dismissed | 13,319 |
| Total VICP outlays since 1989 | $5.66 billion |
| Petitions filed in fiscal year 2026 (through July 1) | 870 |
| Share of awards from settlements without a causation finding | About 60% |
| COVID-19 vaccine claims filed with CICP (through March 2026) | 10,981 |
| COVID-19 vaccine claims found eligible for compensation | 95 |
Source: Health Resources and Services Administration, VICP Monthly Statistics Report (July 1, 2026); KFF, Federal Vaccine Injury Compensation Programs (2026).
The table shows a program with deep history and modest volume. Of 26,508 adjudicated petitions, 13,189 were compensated, or 49.8%, and 13,319 were dismissed. Total outlays reached $5.66 billion, including attorneys’ fees. Only 870 petitions arrived in fiscal year 2026 through July 1, so the annual pace sits near 1,200.
Compensation does not equal proof of harm. About 60% of all compensation comes from negotiated settlements in which HHS did not conclude that the vaccine caused the injury. Settlements happen to avoid cost, delay and legal risk. The COVID-19 numbers sit in a separate program, where only 95 of 10,981 claims have been found eligible so far.
Vaccine Injury Claims Filed in the US 2026: VICP Petitions by Fiscal Year
VICP PETITIONS FILED BY FISCAL YEAR
FY2016 | ███████████ 1,120
FY2018 | ████████████ 1,238
FY2020 | ████████████ 1,192
FY2021 | █████████████████████ 2,057
FY2022 | ██████████ 1,029
FY2024 | ████████████ 1,185
FY2025 | █████████████ 1,300
FY2026 | █████████ 870 (through July 1)
| Fiscal Year | Petitions Filed |
|---|---|
| FY2016 | 1,120 |
| FY2017 | 1,243 |
| FY2018 | 1,238 |
| FY2019 | 1,282 |
| FY2020 | 1,192 |
| FY2021 | 2,057 |
| FY2022 | 1,029 |
| FY2023 | 1,167 |
| FY2024 | 1,185 |
| FY2025 | 1,300 |
| FY2026 (through July 1) | 870 |
Source: Health Resources and Services Administration, VICP Monthly Statistics Report (July 1, 2026).
Filings have held near 1,200 a year for a decade, with one outlier year. Petitions ran 1,120 in FY2016, peaked at 1,282 in FY2019, and spiked to 2,057 in FY2021. Counts then fell to 1,029 in FY2022 and climbed back to 1,300 in FY2025.
The FY2025 total is 62% above the 803 filed in FY2015, according to the Congressional Research Service. The 870 filed so far in FY2026 cover only nine months, so a full-year total near 1,150 is likely. Petitions take 2 to 3 years to resolve on average, so today’s filings shape the court’s workload through 2029. HRSA also lists each month’s new petitions in the Federal Register, with case numbers above 26-1100V in the September 2026 notice.
Vaccine Injury Compensation Payouts in the US 2026: Awards and Attorney Fees
PETITIONER AWARDS PAID BY FISCAL YEAR
FY2021 | █████████████████████ $208.3M
FY2022 | ████████████████████ $195.7M
FY2023 | ████████████ $123.8M
FY2024 | ███████████████ $149.7M
FY2025 | ██████████████ $142.9M
FY2026 | ████████████ $121.6M (through July 1)
| Fiscal Year | Awards Paid | Petitioner Awards | Attorney Fees and Costs | Total Outlays | Average Award |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2021 | 719 | $208.3 million | $24.9 million | $244.4 million | $289,700 |
| FY2022 | 927 | $195.7 million | $23.0 million | $229.9 million | $211,100 |
| FY2023 | 885 | $123.8 million | $35.9 million | $173.9 million | $139,900 |
| FY2024 | 1,221 | $149.7 million | $38.9 million | $203.1 million | $122,600 |
| FY2025 | 1,037 | $142.9 million | $46.1 million | $206.6 million | $137,800 |
| FY2026 (through July 1) | 854 | $121.6 million | $32.5 million | $168.7 million | $142,400 |
Source: Health Resources and Services Administration, VICP Monthly Statistics Report (July 1, 2026); average award calculated from HRSA figures.
Payouts have shifted from fewer large awards to more small ones. Average awards fell from about $289,700 in FY2021 to about $137,800 in FY2025. KFF links the long decline in average awards to the injury table adding milder injuries, such as shoulder injuries, which pay less. The number of awards rose from 719 to 1,221 in FY2024.
Attorney costs are growing faster than awards. Fees and costs reached $46.1 million in FY2025, up from $24.9 million in FY2021, an increase of 85%. By statute, VICP pays attorneys directly, and lawyers may not charge petitioners any other fee. Total outlays were $206.6 million in FY2025, and FY2026 stands at $168.7 million with a quarter left. Awards are paid from a federal trust fund, not by vaccine makers.
Vaccine Injury Claims by Vaccine in the US 2026: Compensable Petitions per Million Doses
COMPENSABLE PETITIONS PER MILLION DOSES, 2006-2024
Influenza | ████████████ 3.02
Tdap | ██████████ 2.52
DTaP | ██████ 1.49
HPV | █████ 1.25
MMR | █████ 1.15
Pneumococcal | ██ 0.57
Hepatitis B | ██ 0.52
Hepatitis A | █ 0.35
| Vaccine | Doses Distributed (millions) | Compensable Petitions | Total Adjudicated | Compensable per Million Doses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Influenza | 2,714.4 | 8,201 | 9,579 | 3.02 |
| Tdap | 406.7 | 1,026 | 1,244 | 2.52 |
| DTaP | 129.7 | 193 | 345 | 1.49 |
| HPV | 177.5 | 222 | 888 | 1.25 |
| MMR | 146.7 | 169 | 347 | 1.15 |
| Pneumococcal conjugate | 371.4 | 210 | 325 | 0.57 |
| Hepatitis B | 270.8 | 140 | 264 | 0.52 |
| Hepatitis A | 250.4 | 87 | 139 | 0.35 |
| All covered vaccines | 5,652.0 | 10,933 | 14,835 | 1.93 |
Source: Health Resources and Services Administration, VICP Adjudication Categories (petitions filed 2006-2024, report updated July 1, 2026); doses from CDC; per-million rates calculated from HRSA figures.
Flu shots dominate the numbers. Influenza accounts for 8,201 of 10,933 compensable petitions, or 75%, because about 2.7 billion of the 5.65 billion doses were flu vaccine. Its rate is 3.02 per million doses, the highest on the table, followed by Tdap at 2.52. Across all vaccines the rate is 1.93 per million doses. HRSA rounds that to about 1 per million.
Rates for other vaccines stay low. HPV shows 1.25 per million doses and MMR shows 1.15. Hepatitis A shows 0.35. HPV also has the highest dismissal rate among major vaccines: 666 of 888 adjudicated HPV petitions, or 75%, were dismissed. Compensation counts include settlements, so rates describe claims paid, not confirmed causes. Flu and Tdap are given to adults and teens in large numbers, which helps explain why they lead the table.
COVID-19 Vaccine Injury Claims in the US 2026: CICP Claims and Eligibility
CICP CLAIMS FY2010-MARCH 2026
All claims filed | █████████████████████████████ 14,733
All decisions made | ███████████████ 7,423
COVID-19 vaccine claims| ██████████████████████ 10,981
COVID-19 decisions | ██████████████ 6,827
Eligible, all claims | ▏ 135
Eligible, COVID-19 | ▏ 95
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| CICP claims received, FY2010 to March 1, 2026 | 14,733 |
| Claims with a decision | 7,423 (50%) |
| Claims found eligible for compensation | 135 (1.8% of decisions) |
| COVID-19 vaccine claims | 10,981 (75% of all claims) |
| COVID-19 vaccine claims with a decision | 6,827 (62%) |
| COVID-19 vaccine claims found eligible | 95 (0.9% of decisions) |
Source: KFF, Federal Vaccine Injury Compensation Programs (2026), citing HRSA Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program data through March 1, 2026; Congressional Research Service (2026).
CICP has received 14,733 claims since FY2010, and 75% concern COVID-19 vaccines. Decisions exist for 7,423 of all claims, or 50%. Only 135 were found eligible, a rate of 1.8%. COVID-19 vaccine claims number 10,981, with 6,827 decided and 95 eligible, or 0.9%.
The low rate reflects different rules from the VICP. CICP requires a serious injury shown to be a direct result of the countermeasure, and it has no injury table for COVID-19 vaccines yet. The CRS notes that COVID-19 vaccines are not in the VICP, because they lack the excise tax that funds it. HHS is now drafting a COVID-19 injury table that would presume certain injuries, which could raise eligibility if it is adopted. The proposal is still a draft, so its final scope and timing may change.
Vaccine Adverse Event Reports in the US 2026: What VAERS Data Shows
VAERS REPORT VOLUME, TYPICAL YEAR
US reports per year | ██████████████████████████████ about 30,000
Foreign reports per year | ██████ about 6,000
Serious US reports (7%) | ██ about 2,100
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| US reports per year (2011-2014 average) | About 30,000 |
| Share classified serious (2011-2014) | 7% |
| Foreign-source reports per year | About 6,000 |
| Reports describing minor events (CDC guidance) | 85% to 90% |
| Reports describing serious events (CDC guidance) | Under 15% |
| System launch year | 1990 |
| Date CDC and FDA expanded public data to secondary reports | May 8, 2025 |
Source: CDC and FDA, Safety monitoring in the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (Vaccine, 2015); VAERS Data Use Guide (March 2025); CDC WONDER.
VAERS is a passive system that anyone can report to. It averaged about 30,000 US reports a year in 2011-2014, and 7% were serious. CDC guidance says 85% to 90% of reports describe minor events, and fewer than 15% describe serious ones. That works out to about 2,100 serious reports in a typical year. Foreign-source reports add about 6,000 more.
The system finds signals and cannot prove causes. CDC states that report counts alone are not evidence a vaccine caused an event, and reports can be incomplete or coincidental. Since May 8, 2025, public files also include secondary reports, which raises counts without changing risk. For context on shot coverage, see our report on childhood vaccine statistics in the US.
Federal Vaccine Injury Policy in the US 2026: HHS Actions and H.R. 9672
FEDERAL VACCINE INJURY MILESTONES, 2026
Jul 14 | ■ H.R. 9672 Vaccine Injury Compensation Modernization Act introduced
Jul | ■ HHS drafts COVID-19 injury table, proposed rule targeted for November
Oct 5 | ■ NIH vaccine injury clinic opens
Oct 8 | ■■ HHS announces VAERS, EHR and Medicare reporting steps
| Date | Action | What It Does |
|---|---|---|
| July 14, 2026 | H.R. 9672 introduced | Adds COVID-19 vaccines to VICP; sets a floor of 10 special masters |
| Summer 2026 | HHS drafts COVID-19 injury table | Would presume listed injuries for CICP; proposed rule targeted for November 2026 |
| October 5, 2026 | NIH vaccine injury clinic opens | Studies and treats patients with health problems after vaccination |
| October 8, 2026 | HHS announces four initiatives | Clinic, VAERS update, EHR capture of adverse events, Medicare payment proposal |
| Current law | Special masters capped at 8 | Hear all VICP cases; petitions up 62% in ten years |
| Current law | VICP table lists 14 injuries | Covers 16 vaccine types; autism is not listed |
Source: HHS announcement (October 8, 2026) via Fierce Healthcare; Congress.gov, H.R. 9672; Congressional Research Service; KFF.
HHS announced four initiatives on October 8, 2026. The NIH clinic opened on October 5. CDC will modernize VAERS, federal IT standards will require electronic health records to capture vaccine adverse events, and CMS proposed paying doctors to file reports. The department is also drafting a COVID-19 injury table, with a proposed rule targeted for November 2026, and a public comment period would follow any proposal. Whether paid reporting yields better data or only more reports is an open question. Parents weighing exemptions can compare our report on vaccine exemption statistics in the US.
Congress is moving too. H.R. 9672, introduced July 14, 2026, would add COVID-19 vaccines to the VICP table, raise the special master cap of 8 to a floor of 10, and shorten the 2-year deadline for adding vaccines. Secretary Kennedy has argued the VICP is too restrictive and should cover more conditions, including autism. KFF notes no credible evidence links vaccines to autism, and the 2002 Omnibus Autism Proceeding found no causal link.
Vaccine Injury Claims in the US FAQ 2026
How many vaccine injury claims have been filed in 2026?
870 VICP petitions were filed in fiscal year 2026 through July 1, 2026. HRSA published 95 petitions received in February 2026 alone. Fiscal year 2025 ended with 1,300.
How much has the vaccine injury program paid out?
Total VICP outlays reached about $5.66 billion since 1989, including $5.01 billion in petitioner awards and $427 million in attorneys’ fees. Another $218 million went to attorneys in dismissed and interim cases.
What percent of vaccine injury claims are compensated?
49.8% of adjudicated petitions were compensated. That is 13,189 of 26,508. The other 13,319 were dismissed.
Does compensation mean the vaccine caused the injury?
Not necessarily. About 60% of compensation comes from settlements in which HHS did not conclude the vaccine caused the injury. Settlements are not an admission by the government.
How common are compensated vaccine injuries?
About 1.93 compensated petitions per million doses distributed from 2006 to 2024. HRSA rounds this to about 1 per million doses.
Which vaccine has the most injury claims?
Influenza. It accounts for 8,201 of 10,933 compensable petitions filed since 2006, or 75%, and nearly half of all doses distributed.
Are COVID-19 vaccine injuries covered by the VICP?
No. They go to the CICP. It had 10,981 COVID-19 vaccine claims through March 2026 and found 95 eligible, or 0.9% of decisions.
Who pays vaccine injury awards?
A federal trust fund pays them, not vaccine makers. The fund draws on an excise tax of $0.75 on covered vaccines, according to the Congressional Research Service.
Can you sue a vaccine maker instead?
Generally not before using the VICP. The program shields manufacturers by barring most civil claims above $1,000 against covered vaccines until the petition process ends.
How long do you have to file a vaccine injury claim?
An injury petition generally must be filed within 3 years of the first symptom or onset. Death claims follow separate deadlines set by statute.
How long does a vaccine injury claim take?
2 to 3 years on average from filing to decision, according to HRSA.
Do vaccine injury lawyers charge fees?
By statute, attorneys may not charge petitioners any fee beyond what VICP pays. The program covers reasonable attorneys’ fees if minimal requirements are met, even when the claim is dismissed.
Are vaccines safe if some claims are paid?
HRSA says vaccines cause no side effects in most cases, and serious reactions are very rare. The program exists because rare injuries do happen, as with any medicine. A paid claim shows the system works, not that vaccines are unsafe.
Is autism on the vaccine injury table?
No. The VICP’s 2002 Omnibus Autism Proceeding found no causal link, and autism is not listed. For the disease side of the ledger, see our report on measles cases by state.
What did HHS announce about vaccine injuries on October 8, 2026?
An NIH clinic that opened October 5, a CDC update of VAERS, an electronic health record requirement for vaccine adverse events, and a CMS proposal to pay doctors who report suspected injuries.
Can a doctor report a suspected vaccine injury?
Yes. Doctors, patients and families can report to VAERS. Under the October 8, 2026 CMS proposal, physicians would be paid for the time they spend filing reports.
What is H.R. 9672?
The Vaccine Injury Compensation Modernization Act of 2026, introduced July 14, 2026. It would add COVID-19 vaccines to the VICP, lift the special master cap from 8 to a floor of 10, and speed up injury table changes.
Disclaimer: This research report is compiled from publicly available sources. While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, no representation or warranty, express or implied, is given as to the completeness or reliability of the information. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions, losses, or damages of any kind arising from the use of this report.