Thank you for your request below:

Request

You asked us:

‘I would like to know the following:

n- What quality assurance processes does the NHSBSA have to ensure that the medical assessors appointed by Crawford & Co are appropriately qualified and trained?’

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) received your request on 22 July 2025.

We have handled your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).

Our response

Reasonably accessible information

Under Section 21 of the FOIA, we are not required to provide information in response to a request if it is already reasonably accessible to you.

The NHSBSA actively publishes information on claims made to the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS) on the Open Data Portal for both COVID-19 and non COVID-19 claims.

You can find the Open Data Portal at:
https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/vdps-covid-19

Where information is being withheld under this exemption, you will see this link in our response below.

Please see the following link to view the section 21 in full: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/36/section/21

Fewer than five

Please be aware that I have decided not to release the full details where the total number of individuals falls below five or has increased by fewer than five since we last answered this request. This is because the information is exempt under section 40(2) of the FOIA (personal information).

This is because it would breach the first data protection principle as:

a) it is not fair to disclose individual’s personal details to the world and is likely to cause damage or distress
b) these details are not of sufficient interest to the public to warrant an intrusion into the privacy of the individual

Please see the following link to view the section 40 exemption in full: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/36/section/40

Breach of Confidentiality

Please note that the identification of individuals is also a breach of the common law duty of confidence. An individual who has been identified could make a claim against the NHSBSA for the disclosure of the confidential information.

The information requested is therefore being withheld as it falls under the exemption in section 41(1) ‘Information provided in confidence’ of the FOIA. Please click the below web link to see the exemption in full: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/36/section/41

All data is as of 30 June 2025 and is from scheme inception in 1979. A list of eligible vaccines is available at:
https://www.gov.uk/vaccine-damage-payment

Question 1- Total claims

a- How many claims have been received in total since the scheme's inception (all vaccines included)?

As of 30 June 2025, 28,742 claims for all eligible vaccines have been received by the VDPS since its inception in 1979.

b- Of those, how many were for a Covid-19 vaccination?

You can find this information published on the Open Data Portal at: https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/vdps-covid-19

Question 2 - Processed claims

c- Out of the total number of claims (all vaccines included), how many have received an outcome (accept, reject, invalid)?

Out of all vaccine-related claims, 22,181 have received an outcome.

d- Out of the number of Covid-19 vaccine claims, how many have received an outcome (accept, reject, invalid)?

You can find this information published on the Open Data Portal at: https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/vdps-covid-19

Question 3 - Reasons for unsuccessful outcomes

e- For the total number number of claims (all vaccines included), how many were declared invalid?

An invalid claim to the VDPS is a claim which does not meet the criteria for medical assessment. For example, claims for vaccines that are not included on the government’s eligible vaccines list. The VDPS has received 2,438 invalid claims.

f- Can you also tell us how many were declared invalid for the following reasons:

i) applications registered in error,

This sub-status is used when a claim for a Vaccine Damage Payment has been registered within our systems before a full claim form has been submitted by the claimant. There have been 23 claims registered on the VDPS which have this sub-status.

ii) application out of time,

If the claim is not received within the time limits specified in the Act, it cannot be considered, as it is not a valid claim. Information about the time limits when applying to the VDPS can be found on the GOV.uk website at:
https://www.gov.uk/vaccine-damage-payment/how-to-claim

There were 726 applications made to the VDPS where the claim was made outside of the time limit.

iii) child under 2 years old,

Please be aware that I am unable to provide a figure for the claims which fall under this category because the figure has increased by fewer than 5 since our previous disclosure of FOI 02394. This is because the information is exempt under section 40(2) (personal information) and section 41 (information provided in confidence) of the FOIA. A further explanation of these exemptions is provided above.

You can view FOI-02394 using the following link: https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/foi-02394

iv) person was over 18 when vaccinated

Please be aware that I am unable to provide a figure for the claims which fall under this category because the figure has increased by fewer than 5 since our previous disclosure of FOI 02394. This is because the information is exempt under section 40(2) (personal information) and section 41 (information provided in confidence) of the FOIA. A further explanation of these exemptions is provided above.

You can view FOI-02394 using the following link: https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/foi-02394

v) disease was not in the Act or regulations,

Claims will be considered invalid where the symptoms experienced following vaccines is not specified in the Act. The VDPS received 140 claims which met this description.

vi) person was not vaccinated in the UK or Isle of Man,

Please be aware that I am unable to provide a figure for the claims which fall under this category because the figure has increased by fewer than 5 since our previous disclosure of FOI 02394. This is because the information is exempt under section 40(2) (personal information) and section 41 (information provided in confidence) of the FOIA. A further explanation of these exemptions is provided above.

You can view FOI-02394 using the following link: https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/foi-02394

vii) person vaccinated prior to 1948,

Since the disclosure of FOI 02394, where we disclosed that 57 claims made to the VDPS where considered invalid because they were made prior to 1948, there has been no increase in the number of claims which fall under this sub-status.

You can view FOI-02394 using the following link: https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/foi-02394

viii) smallpox vaccination given after 1971,

Please be aware that I am unable to provide a figure for the claims which fall under this category because it is fewer than 5. This is because the information is exempt under section 40(2) (personal information) and section 41 (information provided in confidence) of the FOIA. A further explanation of these exemptions is provided above.

ix) vaccination administered before it was included in the routine childhood immunisation programme,

In the case of vaccination against Rotavirus, Influenza, Meningococcal Group W and Meningococcal Group B, claims can only be accepted where vaccination was administered on or after the date it was added to the immunisation program. There were 5 claims made to the VDPS which fall under this sub-status.

x) claim withdrawn,

There have been 178 claims to the Vaccine Damage Payment where the claimant has contacted the NHSBSA and informed us that they do not wish to continue with their claim for a Vaccine Damage Payment.

xiii) vaccination not verified,

Please be aware that I am unable to provide a figure for the claims which fall under this category because the figure has increased by fewer than 5 since our previous disclosure of FOI 02394. This is because the information is exempt under section 40(2) (personal information) and section 41 (information provided in confidence) of the FOIA. A further explanation of these exemptions is provided above.

You can view FOI-02394 using the following link: https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/foi-02394

xii) payment already authorised

Please be aware that I am unable to provide a figure for the claims which fall under this category because it is fewer than five. This is because the information is exempt under section 40(2) (personal information) and section 41 (information provided in confidence) of the FOIA. A further explanation of these exemptions is provided above.

g - For the total number of claims (all vaccines included), how many were rejected (after medical assessment)? Can you tell us how many were rejected on the basis of causation, and how many were rejected on the basis of not meeting the disablement threshold?

Under the Vaccine Damage Payments Act 1979, to qualify for a Vaccine Damage Payment, it must be proved that an eligible vaccine was received and:

• on the balance of probabilities, the vaccine caused the disability
• the resulting disablement is severe

Severely disabled means at least 60% as defined by the principles for assessing the extent of disablement. These are set out in section 103 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 and the Social Security (General Benefit) Regulations 1982:

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1992/4/contents
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1982/1408/schedule/2

There were 18,560 claims for all eligible vaccines which were rejected following medical assessment.

Of these, 17,849 were unsuccessful because the medical assessor recommended that, on the balance of probabilities, the vaccine did not cause the disability in question (causation).

631 claims were unsuccessful because, although the claims met the criteria for causation, the independent medical assessor recommended that the vaccine has not caused severe disablement.

80 rejected claims were not categorised by DWP.

h - For COVID-19 vaccine claims, how many were declared invalid?

You can find this information published on the Open Data Portal at: https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/vdps-covid-19

i- For COVID-19 vaccine claims, how many were declared invalid for the following reasons: applications registered in error, application out of time, disease was not in the Act or regulations, person was not vaccinated in the UK or Isle of Man, claim withdrawn, vaccination not verified, payment already authorised?

Please be aware that I am unable to provide a full breakdown of the claims which fall under this category. This is because the information is exempt under section 40(2) (personal information) and section 41 (information provided in confidence) of the FOIA as some of the status’ have increased by fewer than 5 since the release of FOI 02394. A further explanation of these exemptions is provided above.

You can view FOI-02394 using the following link: https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/foi-02394

There have been 153 invalid claims made to the VDPS where the claimant was not vaccinated in the UK or Isle of Man. Further details on the eligibility criteria are available on the GOV.uk website at: Vaccine Damage Payment: Eligibility - GOV.UK

Are there other reasons why COVID-19 vaccine claims are declared invalid?

Yes there are other reasons why a claim could be invalid, such as a duplicate claim.

j - For Covid-19 Vaccine claims, how many were rejected after medical assessment?

You can find this information published on the Open Data Portal at: https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/vdps-covid-19

k- For Covid-19 vaccine claims, how many were rejected on the basis of causation?

You can find this information published on the Open Data Portal at: https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/vdps-covid-19

l- For Covid-19 vaccine claims, how many were rejected on the basis that the disablement threshold was not met?

You can find this information published on the Open Data Portal at: https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/vdps-covid-19

Question 4 - Medical assessor qualifications

m- The medical assessment of claims has been contracted out to a private Company called Crawford and Co. Can you tell us what requirements, if any, have been imposed by the NHSBSA on Crawford & Co regarding the qualification and training of medical assessors to assess VDPS claims?

The following response does not relate to a specific claim or claimant. The request is being answered more generally given requests under FOIA are requester-blind, that is to say the identity of the requester is not taken into account when considering a request for information under FOIA.

The NHSBSA does not hold information on the independent medical assessors' qualifications. This is because their medical qualifications and experience are the responsibility of the third-party medical assessment supplier.

The contract requires that all assessments carried out are undertaken by suitably qualified and experienced Registered Medical Practitioners. This includes being registered on the UK General Medical Council register, with a licence to practise and meet or exceed the following requirements:

• they are a Registered Medical Practitioner with at least five years’ post graduate experience; and

• they have experience of the performance of medical and/ or disability assessment, addressing questions of causation and impact in the context of legislative or policy requirements to assist the decision maker.

n- What quality assurance processes does the NHSBSA have to ensure that the medical assessors appointed by Crawford & Co are appropriately qualified and trained?’

Under Section 21 of the FOIA, we are not required to provide information in response to a request if it is already reasonably accessible to you.

Please see the below link which takes you to the “Principles of Medical Assessment”. Section 7 (on page 5) relates to the audit process. This document can be found at the below web link under the subsection ‘Guidance the medical assessor uses’: https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/vaccine-damage-payment-scheme-vdps-claim-process

Data Queries

Please contact foirequests@nhsbsa.nhs.uk ensuring you quote the above reference if you have any specific questions regarding this response; or, if you feel you may be misunderstanding or misinterpreting the information; or, if you plan on publishing the data.

Reusing the data and copyright

If you plan on producing a press or broadcast story based upon the data please contact communicationsteam@nhsbsa.nhs.uk. This is important to ensure that the figures are not misunderstood or misrepresented.

The information supplied to you continues to be protected by the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 and is subject to NHSBSA copyright. This information is licenced under the terms of the Open Government Licence detailed at: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Should you wish to re-use the information you must include the following statement: “NHSBSA Copyright 2025” This information is licenced under the terms of the Open Government Licence: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Failure to do so is a breach of the terms of the licence.

Information you receive which is not subject to NHSBSA Copyright continues to be protected by the copyright of the person, or organisation, from which the information originated. Please obtain their permission before reproducing any third party (non NHSBSA Copyright) information.