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FOR RELEASE:
March 6, 2003
CONTACT:
CONTACT:
Janet Bass
202/879-4554
Statement by Sandra Feldman
President, American Federation of Teachers/AFT Healthcare
on the Inadequate Smallpox Compensation Plan
(Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson has offered a plan to compensate people who suffer an adverse reaction from a smallpox vaccination.)
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Secretary Thompson’s flawed proposal does nothing to provide new and convincing justification for a failing program. For those who do volunteer for the vaccine, there must be better education and screening and adequate compensation for those who suffer adverse reactions.
The HHS proposal provides compensation for victims but falls far short of what is necessary. It excludes compensation for reactions of less than five days and limits overall compensation. The plan apparently presumes that employers, private insurers and workmen’s compensation will cover what is left uncovered – something unavailable to many healthcare workers or other innocent victims.
AFT Healthcare will continue to work to improve the smallpox vaccination program. It has a long way to go and needs bipartisan support.
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The AFT represents more than 1.3 million pre-K through 12th-grade teachers, paraprofessionals and other school support employees, higher education faculty, nurses and other healthcare workers, and state and local government employees.
