New Legislation Seeks to Impose Tighter Restrictions on Vaccine-Related Injury Claims

photo-1icNendicew legislation designed to protect thimerosal manufacturers from liability in vaccine-related injury was presented before the U.S. Senate less than a month after Congress voted to repeal similar provisions from the Homeland Security Act on Feb. 14.

Senate Bill S.15, also known as the 'Biodefense Improvement and Treatment for America Act,' was introduced March 13 by Sen. Bill Frist (R-Tenn.), who also authored the amendments that appeared in the Homeland Security Act. Sen. Judd Gregg (R-New Hampshire) sponsored the legislation.

The bill, which addresses issues such as bioterrorism and the development of funds for the …