AVSA Mission Statement

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MISSION

To secure just compensation for the vaccine injured; the inclusion of informed consent protections in vaccine policy and law and basic science research into adverse responses to vaccines.

PRINCIPLES

1. Those who become vaccine injured deserve to have adequate and just compensation to help them cope with their lifelong health problems. The Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) created under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986 must be reformed to allow all those who have suffered serious vaccine reactions and permanent health problems to receive financial assistance. To ensure that the VICP functions fairly and give financial incentive to vaccine manufacturers to improve the safety of vaccines, the vaccine injured should have the constitutional right to access the civil justice system if they are turned down for federal compensation or offered too little compensation to take care of their health care needs.

2. The right to informed consent to any medical procedure which carries a risk of injury or death is the central bioethical principle in the practice of modern medicine. Allowing informed, voluntary risk taking ensures that the individual or guardian of an individual has been given complete information and fully understands the benefits and risks of vaccination and accepts responsibility for taking those risks. Flexibility within the mass vaccination system will help it function in a healthier, less adversarial and more ethical way and all vaccine laws should provide for medical, religious and conscientious belief exemptions. No citizen who exercises the right to informed consent to vaccination should suffer financial or other societal punishments for exercising that right.

3. Basic science research into the biological mechanisms of vaccine adverse events will fill in the gaps in understanding about how and why vaccines cause injury and death and will lead to the development of genetic and other biomarkers to identify high risk individuals. This will reduce the numbers of individuals who suffer vaccine reactions and permanent disability.

GOALS

To support federal and state legislation which institutes reforms in the mass vaccination system, including the securing of fair and just compensation for the vaccine injured in the federal Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) and protection of rights in the civil justice system; the inclusion of informed consent protections in vaccine policy and law; and the funding of basic science research into adverse responses to vaccination to reduce the numbers of individuals who suffer vaccine reactions and permanent disability.

National Vaccine Information Center

Autism Society of America

Illinois Vaccine Awareness Coalition (IVAC)

International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA)

Lyme Disease Foundation

Massachusetts Citizens for Vaccination Choice

Missouri Citizens' Coalition for Freedom in Health Care

Mothering Magazine

New Hampshire Citizens for Health Freedom

Osteomed

Parents Requesting Open Vaccine Education

Unlocking Autism

Vaccine Awareness of North Florida
K.N.O.W - Kids Need Options with Vaccines

Virginia Families for Vaccine Information and Choice