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Home » Vaccine Info

New Vaccine Rules Now In Effect

On July 15, 2011, Vaccine Rules 2, 16, and 17 were amended and a new Supplement to Appendix B
went into effect.

  1. Most importantly, these new rules make it mandatory that all attorneys file all documents in
    Vaccine Act cases, subsequent to the petition itself, by electronic means. See Vaccine Rule 17(b)(3).
    Thus, all newly filed Vaccine Act cases will be designated ECF cases, except for cases involving pro
    se petitioners. See Supplement to Appendix B, II.3(a). At the same time, it should be noted that
    vaccine petitions must continue to be filed in paper form. Apart from the petition itself, no medical
    records or other documents may be filed in paper form. See Supplement to Appendix B, IV.8(a)(i).
    Once a petition is filed by an attorney, the court will automatically designate the case as an electronic
    one, and then the attachments and exhibits that go with the petition must be filed electronically.

  2. Petitions may now be filed using initials instead of a minor’s name in the case caption. See
    Vaccine Rule 16(b).

  3. A copy of the amended Vaccine Rules (including the Supplement to Appendix B addressing electronic case filing procedure in Vaccine Act cases) is posted under the vaccine link on the court’s website. (The former Vaccine General Order 13 is now superseded.)

Please click here for a copy of the recently amended rules.