Wednesday, May 03, 2006

SENATE PASSES AMENDMENT TO COMPENSATE FIRST RESPONDERS WHO SUFFER ADVERSE EFFECTS FROM NEW PANDEMIC FLU VACCINES

Today, the U.S. Senate passed an amendment to the Emergency Supplemental spending bill that would ensure that police officers, firefighters, and health care professionals are provided compensation should they suffer injury from any new pandemic flu vaccinations. The amendment appropriates $289 million to fund the pandemic flu vaccine compensation injury program for first responders.

NAPO has been a leading proponent of such legislation since 2002, when there was an effort to vaccinate first responders against smallpox. At that time, the nation experienced a situation in which some of first responders who accepted vaccines in the public interest risked previously unpredicted adverse medical consequences. NAPO salutes Congress for choosing once again to stand with us in our fight to protect our nation’s first responders. It is ultimately a civic obligation to provide compensation to public servants who suffer adverse effects from the vaccines.

NAPO thanks Senator Joe Biden (D-DE) and Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) for sponsoring this amendment, as well as all of the senators who voted in favor of the amendment for their support of men and women in law enforcement.