( March 23, 2026, 1:35 PM EDT) -- WASHINGTON, D.C. — Several individuals whose family members were treated during the COVID-19 pandemic with and allegedly died as a direct result of certain countermeasures such as hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin on March 20 filed a notice of appeal in a Washington federal court seeking review by the District of Columbia Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals of the lower court’s ruling that the family members had not plausibly alleged that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) was applying an incorrect standard for eligibility for Countermeasure Injury Compensation Program (CICP) benefits....