February 2003

ICA supports repeal of vaccine law

The International Chiropractors Association (ICA) joined the campaign to repeal a new, controversial federal law that shields pharmaceutical companies from liability from injuries caused by the application of certain vaccines in the United States. The provisions were anonymously inserted into the homeland security legislation that passed in the closing hours of the 107th Congress, over the strenuous objections of concerned legislators from both parties. Legislation has been introduced in the new 108th Congress that would repeal these provisions.

Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow introduced S. 105 in the Senate and Indiana Representative Dan Burton introduced H.R. 237 in the U.S. House. These bills, which are almost identical, are written to repeal the provisions of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 that limited the liability of vaccine manufacturers in lawsuits. The provision that did pass the Congress last year will prevent lawsuits by families who say a mercury-based vaccine preservative led to their children's autism.

"The depths to which the drug industry lobby are going to promote their interests are unprecedented," said ICA Legislative Committee Chair Dr. Michael McLean. "For ICA, this is a battle between basic human rights and drug industry profits and ICA urges every doctor of chiropractic to contact his or her federal legislators and ask their support for these key bills."

Legislators from both parties will be addressing a number of concerns with last year's homeland security bill but the vaccine liability limitation caused the most consternation on Capitol Hill, because of the complaints from families who wanted to sue vaccine makers and because no official in the White House, the Senate or the House would acknowledge inserting the provision in what appeared to be the unrelated creation of the Homeland Security Department.

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