Panel OKs Study on Reactions From Childhood Vaccinations

WASHINGTON —  Unable to agree on a system to compensate children brain-damaged by childhood vaccines, a Senate panel voted Wednesday to create a commission to study adverse reactions to the medicines.

The bill, approved without objection by the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee, would create an Advisory Commission on Childhood Vaccines.

The measure, sent to the full Senate, would also require doctors to keep records of vaccinations administered to children and report adverse reactions to the Centers for Disease Control.

Brain Damage, Deaths Cited

The vaccine to immunize infants against pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, is known to cause severe brain damage or death in one case per 310,000 doses, studies show.

Groups of parents whose children died or were left mentally retarded from the vaccine have pushed Congress to make changes in compensation rules.

There has been an increase in the cost of the trivalent vaccine for diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus from 11 cents a dose in 1982 to $11.24 a dose, with the big jump attributed to the higher cost of liability insurance.

All but two drug companies have stopped making the DPT vaccine, prompting fears there could be an eventual shortage.

Sen. Paula Hawkins (R-Fla.), who proposed the original bill, said she supported the amended legislation even though “I’m not a bit pleased we were unable to get a compensation” program.

House Bill Pending

A bill to establish a compensation system in federal courts for vaccine-related deaths and injuries is pending in the House Energy and Commerce health subcommittee.

The measure would require parents of injured children to seek no-fault compensation settlements from special masters appointed by federal judges. It would limit settlements for pain and suffering or death to $250,000.