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Open Letter to Minister Hunt Calling

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The Hon. Greg Hunt, MP PO Box 6022 House of Representatives Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600. 05 May 2021 Dear Minister, We write to request government consider the establishment of a no-fault vaccine injury compensation scheme in Australia. We are a group of leading public health organisations and national vaccination experts with clinical, research and policy advisory roles. These experts proposed such a scheme to the Hon. Scott Morrison MP when he was treasurer in 2016. A no fault vaccine injury compensation scheme compensates individuals who have a vaccine injury following correct administration of properly manufactured vaccines. Recent serious clotting events in several individuals highlight Australia’s obligation to provide compensation if a vaccine results in illness or death. The scheme would compensate for medical expenses; time away from work; or when a person has died and if the individual was not eligible for the National Disability Insurance Scheme or when expenses or losses are not covered by the NDIS. The scheme is named “no fault” because it is where the injury or death is not due to a fault in the manufacturing process or administration error. These instances where a vaccine, administered as intended, causes the injury are rarely resolved through the legal process and can result in long, expensive public court cases. Indemnity provided to vaccine manufacturers for pandemic vaccines, and to health care professionals delivering them, does not assist individuals who do not have a case to mount in the courts. Australia continues to stand in contrast to 25 other countries including the USA, UK, Canada and New Zealand who have longstanding schemes. It is a vital component of a robust immunisation program and will protect and enhance public trust in our National Immunisation Program and the COVID-19 vaccination program. It is well established that the majority of Australians are reasonable and supportive of vaccination. For the hesitant, it would demonstrate that Australia takes seriously its obligation to individuals who vaccinate for the good of the community, their patients and themselves. While it can be difficult to discuss vaccine injury publicly, the present time is an opportunity when Australians are more conversant than ever with vaccine risk and benefit, following the emergence of Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome due to the AstraZeneca vaccine. Australia already has a world class immunisation program and we congratulate successive governments in their efforts to bring our National Immunisation Program to its current state of success. What we are proposing is aimed at further strengthening that program, which may enhance public confidence in the COVID-19 vaccination program. We therefore recommend that the Australian government support the concept of a no-fault vaccine injury compensation scheme in Australia and put steps in place to implement such an initiative as a matter of urgency. We would welcome the chance to discuss this matter further with those at senior levels who may be considering this proposal. We thank you for your consideration of this matter. Yours faithfully, ORGANISATIONS Public Health Association of Australia The Royal Australasian College of Physicians Australasian Society for Infectious Disease Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control INDIVIDUAL VACCINATION EXPERTS Kristine Macartney, Professor and Director, National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance Julie Leask, Professor, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney Nicholas Wood, Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney Margie Danchin, Associate Professor, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, University of Melbourne Christopher Blyth, co-director, Westfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases, Telethon Kids Institute Nigel Crawford, Associate Professor, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, University of Melbourne Paul Effler, Clinical Professor, School of Medicine, University of Western Australia Katie Attwell, Senior Lecturer and leader of VaxPolLab, School of Social Sciences, University of Western Australia CC Mark Butler MP, Shadow Minister for Health Rachel Siewert, Senator, Australian Greens Health spokesperson Brendan Murphy, Secretary, Department of Health Hope Peisley, Assistant Secretary – Immunisation and Communicable Diseases Branch, Office of Health Protection Paul Kelly, Chief Medical Officer, Office of Health Protection .
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