Request

Please could you provide a breakdown of 1. how many people have applied for a Vaccine Damage Payment and 2. how many were successful since December 2020.

Please break this down further into which disease the vaccination was against. For example:

COVID-19 vaccine - x applied - y successful Mumps vaccine - x applied - y successful

Response

The figures provided below cover the period December 2020 to 18 January 2022.

Question 1

We have received the following claims:

721 Coronavirus (COVID-19)Claims

29 Influenza

47 Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) 16 Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio (DTaP/IPV)

9 Human papillomavirus (HPV)

12 Other

We are able to advise that the “Other” claims were for the following vaccines:

Meningococcal Group C (Men C, Men ACWY) Pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 (swine flu) H1N1

Tuberculosis (TB)

Poliomyelitis

834 claims in total

Fewer than 5 Claims

Please be aware that I have decided not to release the exact number of claims for each vaccine where the number is fewer than 5. This is because the claimants could be identified, when combined with other information that may be in the public domain or reasonably available. These are summarised above under the “Other” category.

This information falls under the exemption in section 40 subsections 2 and 3A (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 claimant 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 claimant.

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

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

Breach of Patient confidentiality

Please note that the identification of claimants is also a breach of the common law duty of confidence. A claimant who has been identified could make a claim against the NHSBSA or yourself 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 Freedom of Information Act.

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

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

Question 2

The NHS Business Services Authority took over the administration of the VDPS on 1 November 2021.

Please be aware that I have decided not to release the exact number of awards, as the number is fewer than 5. This is because the claimants could be identified, when combined with other information that may be in the public domain or reasonably available. This information is being withheld for the same reasons, and under the same exemptions detailed in question 1 above.

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 2022” 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.