Renée Gentry, JD ’95, was recently featured on CBS’ 60 Minutes for her leadership in the little-known but vital National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, more commonly called the “vaccine court.” One of the nation’s leading vaccine injury litigators, Gentry serves as director of the Vaccine Injury Litigation Clinic at the George Washington University Law School.
The segment explored how the vaccine court continues to balance public health priorities with individual justice. Sitting just blocks from the White House, the court has awarded nearly $5 billion in compensation since its founding in the 1980s.
In the segment, Gentry discussed her work representing families who experience rare but serious vaccine injuries. “While vaccines are critically important public health tools, they’re not magic,” she said. “That’s why the no-fault part is critical. There’s no bad actor in these cases, just people who deserve to be cared for.”
Through her advocacy, Gentry continues to uphold the program’s founding vision: a compassionate, bipartisan system that protects both the public good and those who experience unforeseen harm.
