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Vaccine Damage Scheme Costs More Than Double Amount Paid to Victims
Confirmed
In Short: More than 24,000 claims have been made under the government's vaccine damage scheme, which has cost £83m to run since April 2022, according to new figures.
The costs of the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS) have significantly increased, with medical assessments alone rising from £4.3m in 2022/23 to £19.3m in 2025/26, according to new data published by the government. The NHSBSA, which runs the scheme on behalf of the government, stated that the costs are driven by the number of claims received.
Campaign group Vaccine Injured and Bereaved UK (VIBUK) criticized the scheme, stating that it offers "too little, too late, to too few" and is "inefficient." Kate Scott, whose husband Jamie was left severely disabled by the AstraZeneca vaccine, called on the government to act on the recommendations from the COVID-19 Inquiry and reform the scheme.
The Taxpayers' Alliance, a right-leaning think tank, expressed shock at the running costs of the scheme, which they claim are "far more than has actually been paid out to those harmed." The organization's chief executive, John O'Connell, urged the government to explain why the system is so expensive and whether victims are getting value from it.
What's confirmed
- The costs of the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS) have significantly increased, with medical assessments alone rising from £4.3m in 2022/23 to £19.3m in 2025/26, according to new data published by the government. The NHSBSA, which runs the scheme on behalf of the government, stated that the costs are driven by the number of claims received.
- Campaign group Vaccine Injured and Bereaved UK (VIBUK) criticized the scheme, stating that it offers "too little, too late, to too few" and is "inefficient." Kate Scott, whose husband Jamie was left severely disabled by the AstraZeneca vaccine, called on the government to act on the recommendations from the COVID-19 Inquiry and reform the scheme.
- The Taxpayers' Alliance, a right-leaning think tank, expressed shock at the running costs of the scheme, which they claim are "far more than has actually been paid out to those harmed." The organization's chief executive, John O'Connell, urged the government to explain why the system is so expensive and whether victims are getting value from it.
What's still developing
- More than 24,000 Covid vaccine-harm claims have been made - most relating to the AstraZeneca jab The government scheme to support people injured by Covid vaccines and other jabs has cost £83m to run since April 2022, new figures have revealed.
- Firm assessing Covid vaccine harm replaced after costs spiral to £48m Families failed by Covid jabs tell inquiry of pain The latest data, external shows there have been 24,260 claims since November 2021, although just 264 have been successful.
- The vast majority of applications are now linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine and other Covid jabs.
- The full costs of the VDPS have now been revealed, external for the first time in the answer to a parliamentary question from the backbench Conservative MP Sir Christopher Chope.
- In response, health minister Dame Diana Johnson said a total of £83m had been spent on staffing costs, administration and medical reviews between April 2022 and March 2026.
- The BBC has previously reported on the large sums paid to an external medical provider which has been carrying out medical assessments.
- The Department for Health and Social Care said it is "carefully considering" the COVID-19 Inquiry's recommendations on reforming the scheme and "will respond shortly".
- NHSBSA said it continued to work "closely" with the government on "managing the costs of the VDPS".