Iraq, not companies, to compensate those with adverse effects after COVID-19 vaccines: health committee

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Iraq on Sunday clarified that Iraqis are entitled to financial compensation from the government should they experience adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccines, after passing a bill excusing private companies dealing with the vaccines from civil and penal liability.

The Iraqi parliament on Sunday passed a bill stipulating that international companies that manufacture, equip and distribute the vaccine, in addition to the Iraqi Ministry of Health and its employees, are exempt from civil and penal liability from damages resulting from the use of the vaccine.

Iraqis are still entitled to financial compensation, but from the government, a representative from parliament’s health and environment committee, state media reported on Sunday.

Iraq has approved Sinopharm, AstraZeneca, Sputnik, and Pfizer coronavirus vaccines for use and distribution. State media said Sinopharm vaccinations began on March 2.

Hassan Khalati, an MP on the committee said on Sunday that the new law was required by Pfizer before vaccines could be delivered.

“All the companies producing the vaccine demanded legal protection,” Khalati told state media outlet al-Sabah.

“Some [companies] were satisfied with a pledge from the Ministry of Health, and others were satisfied with a decision from the Council of Ministers, aside for the company (Pfizer) that demanded that there be a law voted on by the House of Representatives,” added Khalati, saying the Ministry of Health proposed the bill at the request of the company.

The new legislation obligates the Iraqi government to compensate those adversely affected by the use of the vaccine, with the exception of intentional actions that lead to death or serious injury by using the vaccine contrary to medical instructions.

Denmark, Norway, Iceland and Ireland have temporarily suspended the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine, followed by Italy and Austria, as a precaution, after reports that a number of people had experienced strokes after receiving the vaccine.

Iraq's Council of Ministers passed a bill earlier in March to give ten million Iraqi dinars (approximately $7,000) to families of those who died of COVID-19 while working as Ministry of Health employees.

Coronavirus cases have recently spiked in Iraq, with 3,866 new cases reported on Sunday. The country has so far registered over 758,184 cases, according to the health ministry.

Iraq, not companies, to compensate those with adverse effects after COVID-19 vaccines: health committee

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