Request

You asked us:

‘1. How many people are projected to be affected by the Covid Vaccine that are alive?

1.a How many people have made a claim for the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme, for Covid Vaccine, under the VDPS that did not die?

1.b How many have been played under the Vaccine Damage Scheme ?

2.How many are projected to have died from the Covid Vacine

2.a How many people have made a claim for the Payment from the Covid Vaccine, that did die?

2.b.How many have been payed under the Vaccine Damage Scheme ?

3.a How many Assessments were sent to the Doctors that assessed my claim? No names were provided (in breach of Data Protection Law) so I can not provide their names.

3.b. How many have they passed as attributable to the vacine?

4. How much money has been set aside for the VDPS?

5. How much in total has been paid outin total for the Covid Damage?’

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

Our response

I can confirm that the NHSBSA holds some of the information you have requested.

All data provided is as of 28 February 2025. All data relates to claims received by the NHSBSA and those transferred from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on 1 November 2021. All figures provided for questions 1 to 3 and 5 relate to COVID-19 vaccines. 

Question 1

‘How many people are projected to be affected by the Covid Vaccine that are alive?’

Following a comprehensive search of our electronic and paper records, I have established that the information you requested is not held by the NHSBSA.

However, it is possible that Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency may hold some or all of the information you require. They can be contacted at:

MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) Customer Services
10 South Colonnade London
E14 4PU
United Kingdom
Email info@mhra.gov.uk Website https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/medicines-and-healthcare-products-regulatory-agency

Question 1.a

How many people have made a claim for the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme, for Covid Vaccine, under the VDPS that did not die?

There have been 19,294 claims submitted to the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS). Of these 18,151 claims were submitted as either: • a self-claimant • on behalf of someone who is unable to manage their own affairs

Question 1.b

‘How many have been played under the Vaccine Damage Scheme?’

Not all of claimants who have been notified of an award have received their payment yet. This is because we are waiting for further information from them. For example, their bank details.

210 claimants have been notified they are entitled to a Vaccine Damage Payment. Of these, 202 claimants have received a Vaccine Damage Payment. This totals £24,240,000.

A Vaccine Damage Payment is a one-off payment of £120,000. The VDPS is not a compensation scheme.

Question 2

‘How many are projected to have died from the Covid Vacine?’

Following a comprehensive search of our electronic and paper records, I have established that the information you requested is not held by the NHSBSA. However, it is possible that MHRA may hold some or all of the information you require.

Question 2.a

‘How many people have made a claim for the Payment from the Covid Vaccine, that did die?’

As mentioned in Q1, there have been 19,294 claims submitted to the VDPS. Of these 1,143 claims were submitted on behalf of someone who has died.

Question 2.b

‘How many have been payed under the Vaccine Damage Scheme?’

Please be advised since the disclosure of FOI-02351 (31 October 2024), which discloses an award outcome has been communicated in relation to 70 claims on behalf of someone who has died, this figure has increased by fewer than five.

We have therefore decided not to disclose this exact figure under section 40(2) and section 41 of the FOIA. This is because the individuals 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 (FOIA). 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 click the web link below to see the exemption in full.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/36/section/40

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 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 Freedom of Information Act.

Please click the web link below to see the exemption in full.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/36/section/41

You can view this FOI-02351 using the following link:

https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/foi-02351

Question 3.a

‘How many Assessments were sent to the Doctors that assessed my claim? No names were provided (in breach of Data Protection Law) so I can not provide their names.’

The medical assessor supplier has carried out 14,759 COVID-19 related medical assessments. This number includes reassessments. Claims can be reassessed through the mandatory reversal process. There’s no limit on the number of times a mandatory reversal can be requested, and no time limit.

Medical assessments are complex and can take time. Each assessment is carried out by a General Medical Council registered doctor who has practised for at least five years and is experienced in medical and/ or disability assessments.

https://www.gov.uk/vaccine-damage-payment/if-you-disagree-with-a-decision

We consider the medical assessor’s name to be personal data under the Data Protection Act 2018. Disclosure of their names would result in their identification.

Please be aware that we do not release the names of the medical assessors as this information falls under the exemption in section 40 subsections 2 and 3(A)(a) of the FOIA.

Please see the following link to view the section 40 exemption in full:

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/36/section/40

Question 3.b

How many have they passed as attributable to the vacine?

There are 666 claims where the medical assessor has recommended that, on the balance of probabilities, the vaccine caused the disability in question (causation).

This figure includes the number of claims which were awarded a Vaccine Damage Payment, as well as the number of claims where the medical assessor recommended that the vaccine has not caused severe disablement.

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

Question 4

‘How much money has been set aside for the VDPS?’

The Department of Health Social Care (DHSC) determines the funding amount for the VDPS. As administrators of the VDPS, we receive notification of the allocated budget for the scheme from DHSC for each financial year.

For 2025/26, the budget allocated for the VDPS by the DHSC is £38.6 million. However, claims are not determined based on this amount and we will request additional funding from the DHSC to process claims if needed.

Question 5

‘How much in total has been paid outin total for the Covid Damage?’

Not all claimants who have been notified of an award have received their payment yet. This is because we are waiting for further information from them. For example, their bank details.

202 claimants have received a Vaccine Damage Payment. This totals £24,240,000.

A Vaccine Damage Payment is a one-off payment of £120,000. The VDPS is not a compensation scheme.

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.