Request

What is the total amount that has been spent on legal fees and medical expert witness costs for tribunals related to VDPS claims linked specifically to the Covid-19 vaccines since NHSBS took over running the scheme?

Date Range: 01/11/21 – 20/11/24

Response

can confirm that the NHSBSA holds the information you have requested.

As background, an applicant under the scheme can challenge the decision made about their Vaccine Damage Payment claim. This is called asking for a “Mandatory Reversal” and means the claim will be reassessed.

If the applicant disagrees with the independent medical assessor’s decision in relation to a mandatory reversal, they can either: • submit a reversal – this means the claim will be reassessed. There is no limit on the number of times an applicant can make this request. • submit an appeal to the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal.

The NHSBSA takes an objective approach at all stages of the appeals process and welcomes any teaching that the courts provide. More information on this process is available on the gov.uk website.

The total spend from 1 November 2021 to 20 November 2024 in relation to Vaccine Damage Payment appeals heard by a tribunal is: • £50,608.00 for legal fees • £0 for medical expert witness costs

Tribunals are managed by His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) and the figures above only include legal fees paid to our third party supplier and do not include costs paid to HMTCS.

Publishing this response

Please note that this information will be published on our Freedom of Information disclosure log at:

https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/foi-02407