Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith Blasts HHS Vaccine Compensation Program for ‘Lack of Clarity,’ Slow Pace

Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) at an election night party in Jackson, Miss., on Nov. 27, 2018. Jonathan Bachman/Reuters

During a Senate appropriations subcommittee hearing on May 4, Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) accused Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra of a lack of urgency in compensating Americans harmed by COVID-19 vaccines.

In March, Hyde-Smith joined Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and other Republicans in introducing legislation to offer financial compensation to those who suffered adverse health reactions to the vaccines.