Thank you for your request for information about the following:

‘Please can you make the following dataset available, broken down by month of claim, preferably in a spreadsheet or CSV format: -

1/ The number of VDPS claims relating to all vaccines. - Of those claims, how many were successful, how many were rejected, and for claims rejected the reasons why these claims were rejected.

2/ The number of VDPS claims relating to COVID-19 vaccines. - Of those claims,

• how many were medically assessed.

• Any successful claims.

• Any rejected claims. For claims rejected, the reasons why these claims were rejected.’

Your request was received on 13th October 2022 and I am dealing with it under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Response

A copy of the information is attached. Figures provided were correct as of 17 October 2022.

Column C reflects the volume of claims submitted for an assessment with the third-party independent medical assessor. These claims are still in the assessment process and have not been concluded.

Column G relates to the volume of claims that are not eligible to apply based on the criteria of the scheme.

Fewer than 5 Claims, Awards and Refusals

Please be aware that I have decided not to release the exact number of claims, awards and refusals where the number is fewer than 5 for claims within the last 5 years. Values which are fewer than 5 have been replaced with a *. This includes totals where they would allow you to work out the withheld numbers. This is because the claimants could be identified, when combined with other information that may be in the public domain or reasonably available. Online communities exist for those adversely affected by vaccines they have received. This further increases the likelihood that those may be identified by disclosure of this information.

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

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.