These revised Guidelines represent an effort by the Office of Special Masters, with input from both the petitioners' bar and counsel for the respondent, to provide the bar and pro se petitioners with information that will assist in the prompt and efficient resolution of claims submitted under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act ("Vaccine Act"), as amended, 42 U.S.C. ยงยง 300aa-1 to -34.
Practitioners are cautioned that these Guidelines provide a practical explanation of how to proceed under the Program and are not intended to replace or supplement the Vaccine Act or the Vaccine Rules. The Guidelines do not mandate particular practices or procedures but instead inform practitioners of best practices in preparing and presenting their clients' cases before the Office of Special Masters.