Request

Please provide the following
1. The number of Vaccine Damage Payments made in each year starting from 2018 to the current year.
2. Please break down the figures by year.
3. Please provide the monetary value of each of those payments.
4. Please provide a brief medical explanation for each payment detailing why the payment was made 5. Please explain how the 60% disability threshold was decided and by whom 6. Please provide what is classed as a 60% disability?

Your request was received on 6 July, and I am dealing with it under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Response

All data as of 11 July 2023. The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) took over administration of the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS) from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on 1 November 2021. All data relating to claims submitted prior to 1 November 2021 was transferred to us from DWP.

Please be aware that I have decided not to release the full details where the total number of patients falls below five. This is because the patients could be identified, when combined with other information that may be in the public domain or reasonably available.

This information falls under the exemption in section 40 subsections 2 and 3 (a) of the Freedom of Information Act.

This is because it would breach the first data protection principle as: a) it is not fair to disclose patients’ 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 patients.

Questions 1,2 and 3:
2018: Fewer than five claimants received a Vaccine Damage Payment. Claimants received payments between £100,000 and £120,000.

2019: Fewer than five claimants received a Vaccine Damage Payment. Claimants received payments between £100,000 and £120,000.

2020: Fewer than five claimants received a Vaccine Damage Payment. Claimants received payments between £100,000 and £120,000.

2021: Fewer than five claimants received a Vaccine Damage Payment. Claimants received payments between £100,000 and £120,000.

2022: 33 claimants were notified that they were entitled to a Vaccine Damage Payment of £120,000. Of those, 26 received their payment in 2022. Payment is made to each claimant within 10 working days of supplying us with their bank details.

2023: As of 11 July 2023, 94 claimants have been notified that are entitled to a Vaccine Damage Payment of £120,000. Of those, 78 have received their payment so far. Payment is made to each claimant within 10 working days of supplying us with their bank details.

Question 4, 5 and 6 Under the policy of the scheme, payments are made when it can be established, on the balance of probabilities, that the disablement was caused by a vaccine covered by the VDPS, and that the resulting disablement is severe (60% or more).

Severely disabled means at least 60% disabled, assessed for the purposes of section 103 of The Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992. Further principles for assessing the extent of disablement are set out in the Social Security (General Benefit) Regulations 1982 (legislation.gov.uk).

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is responsible for the policy and legislation that governs the VDPS.

Eligibility criteria, how a claim is assessed, and guidance the medical assessor uses is on our website at: www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/vaccine-damage-payment-scheme-vdps-claim-process