Request

Please can you provide the following information regarding claims made under the Vaccine Damage Payout Scheme in relation to Covid-19.

1. How many claims have been received since the scene opened?

2. How many claims have been rejected? Please provide the reason for each rejection if possible.

3. How many claims have been accepted? Please provide details on the nature of the claim if possible.

4. For each successful claim, please state the exact sum paid to the claimant in compensation

Response

All data is as of 16 February 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. All figures provided below relate to COVID-19 vaccinations:

Question 1

3,842 COVID-19 claims have been received by the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS).

Question 2

814 claims have been unsuccessful and a further 37 did not meet the eligibility criteria for medical assessment in accordance with the Vaccine Damage Payments Act 1979.

Of the 814 claims:

776 were unsuccessful because the independent medical assessor recommended that, on the balance of probabilities, that the vaccine did not cause the disability in question (causation). 38 were unsuccessful because, although the claim met the criteria for causation, the independent medical assessor recommended that the vaccine has not caused severe disablement. Under the VDPS severe disablement means at least 60% disabled, based on Schedule 2 of The Social Security (General Benefit) Regulations 1982.

Question 3

44 claimants have been notified they are entitled to a Vaccine Damage Payment.

Question 4

The VDPS provides a one-off tax free payment, currently £120,000, to successful applicants where, on very rare occasions, a vaccine has caused severe disablement.

The VDPS is not compensation scheme. A claimant could still seek damages in court.