# US plan would pay doctors to treat reported vaccine side effects

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/trump-administration-planning-to-reimburse-doctors-treating-vaccine-injury/
- Published: 2026-11-15T12:00:15+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-15T12:33:37+00:00
- Original publisher: The Guardian (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/nov/15/vaccine-policy-rfk-jr-trump-administration
- Topics: Health, Medicine, Politics, World

## Key points

- US plans to reimburse doctors treating reported vaccine side effects.
- Experts warn the policy could erode trust in vaccines.
- Kennedy has disclosed income linked to vaccine lawsuit referrals.

## Summary

The Trump administration is preparing a rule to reimburse doctors for diagnosing, treating and counselling people with reported vaccine side effects. Experts say the move, alongside a new vaccine research centre and proposed changes to the compensation programme, could weaken public confidence in vaccines and build a record of alleged risks.

Health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr has a long history of opposing vaccination and has disclosed $2.5m in income from referrals for vaccine-related lawsuits before his confirmation hearing. The article also cites more than $50m in settlements in litigation against Merck over its HPV vaccine, as well as Kennedy’s earnings from books, speaking events and wellness-related organisations. HHS rejects claims that Kennedy is seeking personal gain or trying to dismantle American medicine.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.