U.S. Congress Votes to Repeal Vaccine Provision

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U.S. Congress Votes to Repeal Vaccine Provision

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A controversial measure protecting companies

from lawsuits from families blaming their children's autism on a

vaccine preservative will be repealed under a massive spending bill

Congress passed late Thursday.

 

The provision shielded manufacturers such as Eli Lilly and Co. from

being sued over harm caused by a mercury-based vaccine ingredient

called thimerosal.

 

Supporters said the liability protections were necessary because

lawsuits alleging harm from thimerosal have bypassed a federal

vaccine injury compensation fund set up in 1986.

 

The fund was established in part to encourage companies to stay in

the vaccine business because vaccines benefit the public good. Lilly

argued that lawsuits alleging injury due to vaccine ingredients

should also go through the federal fund.

 

The provision to protect companies from being sued over vaccine

ingredients had passed Congress as one of several measures tucked

into last year's homeland security legislation at the last minute,

sparking an uproar that nearly derailed that bill.

 

" This provision was added in the dark of night, clearly as a payback

to powerful political supporters, and it had no place in legislation

intended to protect American families, " said Michigan Democrat Sen.

Debbie Stabenow, who had pushed for the repeal.

 

The spending bill passed Thursday repealed that language.

 

No scientific studies have found a connection between thimerosal and

autism.

 

Lilly had argued that the congressional measure would protect vaccine

makers from meritless lawsuits.

 

" We're disappointed by the decision to repeal the vaccine ingredient

provision. However, we agree that process by which the legislation

was enacted was not desirable, " Sagebiel said.

 

The company hopes Congress will pass similar language to block

lawsuits over vaccine ingredients as part of broad vaccine

legislation later this year, he added.

 

Eli Lilly shares fell 56 cents to close at $56.73.

 

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