UK accepts vaccine compensation scheme needs reform, but sets no timetable

The UK government has accepted that the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme needs reform, but has committed only to reviewing it so far, with no timetable or specific changes announced.

The undertaking follows criticism from the UK Covid-19 Inquiry, which recommended urgent reform of the scheme. The government says it will consider options and work with people who have been injured after vaccination and their families. It says further details will be provided in due course. [1]

The scheme provides one-off payments to people who meet its eligibility criteria after severe injury linked to vaccination. The Inquiry called for the current £120,000 payment to rise with inflation and for different payment levels to reflect the degree of injury. It also said the requirement for claimants to show they are at least 60% disabled does not work effectively for Covid-19 vaccines. [2]

The BBC reports that more than 24,000 Covid-related claims have been made to the scheme, with just over 1% resulting in awards. [2]

Campaign group Vaccine Injured and Bereaved UK welcomed the government’s recognition of the problems but said it wanted a clear commitment to action, rather than a promise to look further at what needs to be done. The group said there was no clear timetable or certainty about what would change. [2]

The government also acknowledged concerns about the scheme’s running costs. The BBC reported that it had cost £83m to run since April 2022, while £32m had been paid in support to claimants. [2]