In response to your request for information about the following:  

1. Please inform me of how many VDPS applications have been made by claimants who have received the Pfizer vaccine?

2. How many have been accepted, and for what conditions?

3. How many have been rejected?

4. All guidelines, instructions and other information which have been prepared to assist assessors in conducting their assessment.

5. I would also be grateful if you would specify the qualifications, and type and duration of professional experience, of the assessor

6. And explain the basis of their independence.

Response

All data as of 25 July 2023. All data relates to claims received by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) and those transferred from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on 1 November 2021.

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. Data relating to vaccine manufacturer is only recorded post-medical assessment based on the medical records.

1- Data relating to vaccine manufacturer is only recorded post-medical assessment based on the medical records. A total of 896 claims for a Vaccine Damage Payment have been assessed where the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine was administered.

2- Fewer than 5 claimants have been notified that they are entitled to a Vaccine Damage Payment. Conditions listed in the claims awarded a Vaccine Damage Payment include: Anaphylaxis, Myocarditis/pericarditis

3- Therefore, more than 891 of these claims have been unsuccessful. 

4- Under Section 21 of the Act, we are not required to provide information in response to a request if it is already reasonably accessible to you. Guidance the independent medical assessors use, including the VDPS medical assessment principles document, is available on our website: https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/vaccine-damage-payment-scheme-vdps-claim-process

5- I am writing to advise you that I have established that the information you requested is not held by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA). The NHSBSA does not hold the full qualifications of each independent medical assessor. This is managed by the independent medical assessor supplier. However, independent medical assessors are registered with the General Medical Council (GMC) and have:

• a license to practise

• at least five years’ experience

• experience of the performance of medical and/or disability assessments.

6- Medical Assessors work for a third-party supplier and are not involved in the direct care of the VDPS claimant.

Please note that this request and our response is published on our Freedom of Information disclosure log at: 

https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/foi-01335  

Data Queries 

If you have any queries regarding the data provided, or if you plan on publishing the data please contact nhsbsa.foirequests@nhs.net ensuring you quote the above reference. This is important to ensure that the figures are not misunderstood or misrepresented. 

If you plan on producing a press or broadcast story based upon the data please contact nhsbsa.communicationsteam@nhs.net. 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 2023” 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.