Running Costs of UK COVID-19 Vaccine Damage Scheme More Than Double Amount Paid to Victims

The UK’s Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme has cost £83 million ($111 million) to administer since April 2022 – more than twice the £32 million ($43 million) paid in financial support to people who have successfully claimed under it. More than 24,000 claims relating to COVID-19 vaccines have reportedly been submitted, but only 264 claims under the scheme have resulted in payments.

To qualify, applicants must demonstrate on the balance of probabilities that a vaccine caused severe disablement, and that the resulting disability meets the scheme’s threshold of at least 60 percent. Successful applicants receive a one-off tax-free payment of £120,000. Critics have long argued that this amount is inadequate for people left unable to work or requiring lifelong care. Families can also face lengthy waits while medical evidence is assessed and decisions are made.

People who suffer serious injuries recognized as being caused by vaccines should have access to a compensation system that is timely, transparent, and adequate for their needs. The revelation that substantially more public money has been spent administering Britain’s scheme than compensating successful claimants raises legitimate questions about whether it is fulfilling that purpose effectively. For those living with severe disabilities and their families, financial support is not an abstract policy issue but something that can profoundly affect their quality of life.

To read how, in 2024, British-Swedish pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca admitted in court documents that its COVID-19 vaccine can cause deadly blood clots, see this article on our website.