Ministers have committed to reforming the scheme that provides financial support for individuals injured or bereaved by vaccines. This commitment follows a key recommendation from the UK Covid Inquiry.
Baroness Hallett, chair of the Covid Inquiry, called for "urgent" reform of the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS) in her fourth report, stating it is "not sufficiently supportive". The report highlighted that the current system, which requires individuals to show they are at least "60% disabled", does not work effectively for Covid vaccines.
More than 24,000 people have made Covid-related claims to the VDPS, but just over 1% have received the one-off tax-free award of £120,000. Campaign group Vaccine Injured and Bereaved UK welcomed the government's acknowledgement that vaccine injury and bereavement are real and that the VDPS is not fit for purpose, but expressed a desire for a clear commitment to action rather than further review.
The government's response stated it is committed to reviewing the scheme to ensure it is "fit for purpose and delivered effectively." Ministers in England have pledged to work with other UK nations, as well as those affected by Covid vaccine injuries and their families. Concerns about the running costs of the scheme were also acknowledged; the VDPS has cost £83m to run since April 2022, with administration and medical assessment costs more than doubling the £32m paid out in financial support.