“The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program is a no-fault alternative to the traditional legal system for resolving vaccine injury petitions.
“It was created in the 1980s, after lawsuits against vaccine companies and health care providers threatened to cause vaccine shortages and reduce U.S. vaccination rates, which could have caused a resurgence of vaccine preventable diseases.”
https://www.hrsa.gov/vaccine-compensation/index.html
“The special master’s decision may be appealed and petitioners who reject the decision of the court (or withdraw their petitions within certain timelines) may file a claim in civil court against the vaccine company and/or the health care provider who administered the vaccine.”
The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program doesn’t cover the COVID vaccine, yet.
https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/LSB/LSB10584
CRS LSB10584