As of January 1, 2025, there have been 6,603 claims filed so far in the federal Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) for 882 deaths and 5,721 injuries that occurred after diphtheria and diphtheria-containing vaccines combined with additional vaccines. Of that number, the U.S. Court of Claims administering the VICP has compensated 2,669 children and adults, who have filed claims for diphtheria vaccine associated injury.
The U.S. Government recognizes the following as injuries associated with DTP, DTaP, Tdap, DT, or Td vaccines:
- Anaphylaxis occurring within 4 hours of vaccine administration
- Brachial Neuritis occurring within 2 and 28 days of vaccine administration
- Vasovagal syncope occurring within 1 hour of vaccine administration
- Encephalopathy and encephalitis occurring within 72 hours of vaccine administration
- Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA) occurring within 48 hours of vaccine administration
For more information on adverse reactions from combination pertussis, diphtheria and tetanus vaccines, visit the NVIC pertussis (whooping cough) webpage.
