A Comparison of Vaccine Injury Compensation Scheme in Germany, Finland and Taiwan

DOI: 10.6525/TEB.20150922.31(18).002

Yu-Ling Chen^1＊, Angela Song-En Huang², An-Hua Cheng¹, Ta-Jen Chien¹

2015 Vol.31 NO.18

Correspondence Author： Yu-Ling Chen

Abstract：

Because of herd immunityeffect, the benefits of mass immunization for public health are clear. For thepublic interest, many countries have developed vaccine injury compensationschemes under the social welfare system when facing with the unavoidable costof mass inoculation. Germany is a welfare state that established the firstnational program for vaccination injury compensation that based on a theory of“the special sacrifice damage compensation”. Finland, as also a welfare state,however implemented its vaccine injury compensation program under thepharmaceutical injury insurance for the purpose of sharing risk in compensatingthe severe injured consuming pharmaceuticals. In Taiwan, the compensationscheme is enacted and run by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, in which taxesare paid by the vaccine supplier for the compensation funding, claims arereviewed by a committee with professional and fair, and administrative resourceof public health are put into helping the injured for causation investigation.This article made a comparison of vaccine injury compensation schemes of theabove countries, and focused the discussion on the current status in Taiwan offollowing issues, including of the eligibility of claims, the standard of prooffor causal relationship, the targets and items of the compensation payments.Finally, the suggestions are made that the resources of social welfare systemshould be involved, and the consensus on issues mentioned above should bestrived. In prospect, the design of compensation scheme, as a policy ofwelfare, should be a matter of value orientation that could respond effectivelyto social conditions and public sentiments