Vaccine Damage Payments Act 1979

Opened the debate

The MP thanked Mr Speaker for granting the debate on the Vaccine Damage Payments Act 1979, focusing on individuals who experienced serious adverse consequences due to vaccination. He highlighted cases where families faced severe financial and emotional hardships after vaccine-related deaths or injuries but had yet to receive any compensation under the scheme despite full inquests establishing causation. The speech also covered a lack of updates on the £120,000 payment ceiling and no payments made under the scheme since its extension for COVID-19 vaccines in 2021. He emphasised the need for timely recognition and support from the Government.

Government Response

The Minister acknowledged the importance of the debate and emphasised the safety of vaccinations while recognising rare instances of severe disablement linked to vaccines. She confirmed the transfer of responsibility for the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS) from the Department for Work and Pensions to Health and Social Care in 2021. The NHS Business Services Authority is handling claims, aiming to improve claimant engagement and reduce response times. While acknowledging ongoing work by the MHRA to establish causal links between vaccines and adverse events, she noted that due to the novelty of COVID-19 vaccines, evidence collection takes time. For all 920 claims related to the scheme, NHSBSA is progressing applications as swiftly as possible while adhering to necessary medical assessments. No payments have been made yet but the process involves gathering extensive medical records and following established procedures for determining causal links before moving forward with claims assessment and potential payment. The Minister assured that she would meet with the lead MP to discuss further support measures.