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Vaccine Damage Payments Act 1979
24 March 2023
Lead MP
Christopher Chope
Debate Type
Adjournment Debate
Tags
NHS
Other Contributors: 1
At a Glance
Christopher Chope raised concerns about vaccine damage payments act 1979 in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
MP Christopher Chope raised concerns about the inadequacy of the Vaccine Damage Payments Act 1979 in addressing adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccines. He highlighted that over 4,000 claims have been made under this act and many remain outstanding. The MP emphasised the need for the government to recognise vaccine damage and provide additional support for victims. Chope also cited cases like Jamie Scott who experienced severe disabilities following vaccination and called on the government to admit instances where vaccines caused reactions.
The unnamed MP asked a series of questions about the court's decision, the alignment of disablement thresholds between different support schemes, the Government’s response to coroners' reports, and plans for specialist clinics and reducing backlogs.
Government Response
The Minister acknowledged the concerns raised by MP Christopher Chope. She stated that the Government is keen to support individuals affected by vaccine damage; hence, she agreed to meet with an all-party parliamentary group and Members from across the House who have concerns on this issue. The Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme provides a one-off tax-free payment for severe disablement caused by vaccines. Since 2021, NHS Business Services Authority (BSA) has improved the process by putting in place digital modernisation processes to speed up application processing and introduced quality standards to ensure eligible claims are determined first-time around. The Minister emphasised that the Government is investing £110 million into vaccine safety research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research, including a specific allocation of £1.6 million at the University of Liverpool to understand rare conditions linked with vaccination. She committed to looking further into symptoms experienced by those who feel they have been affected by vaccines during her meeting with the all-party parliamentary group.
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