FOI-03579

Thank you for your request for information about the following:

<strong>Request</strong>

You asked us:

<i>‘In line with figures published in the latest VDPS data set up to 31 Dec 2025, please provide the following data

1) Please provide a breakdown of the vaccines involved in the claims that have received an outcome?

2) Please provide a breakdown of which vaccine was used in the claims awarded.

3) Using the figure of 537 (data published on 27/1/2025). Please give a breakdown of the number of claims unsuccessful on the disability criteria when causation has been accepted, with at least 20% disability, at least 30% disability, at least 40% disability and at least 50%.

***If you are unable to provide a figure for all the percentages requested due to increases of less than 5, is it possible to provide a figure for all the claims rejected on disability with at least 30% disability.

4) Is it possible to give the conditions that have met the criteria e.g VITT, GBS?

5) Using the figure 2659 provided in the data set up to 31st Dec 2025, how many mandatory reversal decisions have been reversed, resulting in anaward? How many mandatory reversal decisions have resulted in causation being removed?

6) How many appeals to the tribunal have been filed? How many have received an outcome? Have any decisions been reversed?

7) The figure 246 has been published for claims awarded on the dataset. How many of the claims that received an awarded had to wait over 12 months , 18 months, 24 months for an outcome. This being the date application was received by the VDPS to the date the claimant was informed their claim had been accepted and an award would be given.’</i>

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) received your request on 2 February 2026.

We have handled your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).

<strong>Our response</strong>

I can confirm that the NHSBSA holds the information you have requested. All data is as of 31 December 2025 and relates to COVID-19 vaccine claims only.

<strong>Fewer than five</strong>

Please be aware that I have decided not to release the exact number of awards, where the number is fewer than 5. This is because the claimants could be identified when combined with other information that may be in the public domain or reasonably available. Online communities exist for those adversely affected by vaccines they have received. This further increases the likelihood that those may be identified by disclosure of this 
information.

This information falls under the exemption in section 40 subsections 2 and 3A (a) of the Freedom of Information Act.

This is because it would breach the first data protection principle as:

a) It is not fair to disclose claimant personal details to the world and is likely to cause damage or distress.

b) These details are not of sufficient interest to the public to warrant an intrusion into the privacy of the claimant.

Please click the web link below to see the exemption in full: 
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/36/section/40

<strong>Breach of Confidentiality</strong>

Please note that the identification of individuals is also a breach of the common law duty of confidence. An individual who has been identified could make a claim against the NHSBSA for the disclosure of the confidential information.

The information requested is therefore being withheld as it falls under the exemption in section 41(1) ‘Information provided in confidence’ of the FOIA.

Please click the below web link to see the exemption in full: 
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/36/section/41


<strong>Question 1 - Please provide a breakdown of the vaccines involved in the claims that have received an outcome?</strong>

Of the claims which have received an outcome:
<ul>
<li>7,690 relate to AstraZeneca 
<li>5,611 relate to Pfizer 
<li>644 relate to Moderna 
<li>fewer than five relate to Novavax 
<li>fewer than five relate to Janssen 
</ul>
The remainder of claims cannot be categorised because they relate to more than one COVID-19 vaccine. For example, where a claim relates to an initial vaccine from one manufacturer and a booster from another.

<strong>Question 2 - Please provide a breakdown of which vaccine was used in the claims awarded.</strong>

Of the number of claims that have already received an outcome:
<ul>
<li>235 relate to AstraZeneca
<li>6 relate to Pfizer
</ul>
Further requested breakdown by vaccine manufacturer has not been provided. This is because the small changes in numbers when compared to figures provided previously, in response to similar Freedom of Information requests, could result in claimants being identified. Therefore, as detailed above in accordance with section 40 (2) and section 41 of FOIA, we are unable to provide a further detailed breakdown by manufacturer.

<strong>Question 3 - Using the figure of 537 (data published on 27/1/2025). Please give a breakdown of the number of claims unsuccessful on the disability criteria when causation has been accepted, with at least 20% disability, at least 30% disability, at least 40% disability and at least 50%.</strong>

The NHSBSA publishes data about the VDPS on our Open Data Portal: 
https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/vdps-covid-19 
 
This data shows that 537 claims were unsuccessful because, although the claims met the criteria for causation, the medical assessor recommended that the vaccine did not cause severe disablement. 
 
Under the VDPS, severe disablement means at least 60% disabled, based on Schedule 2 of The Social Security (General Benefit) Regulations 1982:  
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1982/1408/schedule/2 
 
Of the 537 claims, there were 222 claims rejected because, following a medical assessment, the assessed disablement was more than 20% but less than 60%. 
 
A further breakdown by level of disability for the remaining unsuccessful claims has not been provided. This is because the small changes in numbers when compared to figures provided previously in response to similar Freedom of Information requests, as well as the cumulative figures the NHSBSA publishes, provides a less than five figure for some of the percentages you have specified and may result in claimants being identified. 
 
Therefore, in accordance with section 40(2) and section 41 of the FOIA this information cannot be disclosed. Details of these exemptions are outlined above. 

<strong>***If you are unable to provide a figure for all the percentages requested due to increases of less than 5, is it possible to provide a figure for all the claims rejected on disability with at least 30% disability.</strong>

There have been 125 claims rejected because, following a medical assessment, the assessed disablement was more than 30% but less than 60%.
	
<strong>Question 4 - Is it possible to give the conditions that have met the criteria e.g VITT, GBS?</strong>

The list of awarded conditions has been updated following a recent review:
<ul>
<li>Acute allergic reaction
<li>Anaphylaxis
<li>Bell's palsy
<li>Capillary leak syndrome
<li>Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP)
<li>Guillain-Barre syndrome
<li>Immune thrombocytopenia
<li>Myocarditis / pericarditis
<li>Transverse myelitis
<li>VITT/Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis
</ul>
Other: We are unable to provide a breakdown of those categorised as other as this would provide conditions which are fewer than five and is therefore exempt under section 40(2) and section 41 of the FOIA as described above.

<strong>Question 5 - Using the figure 2659 provided in the data set up to 31st Dec 2025, how many mandatory reversal decisions have been reversed, resulting in an award? </strong>

At the mandatory reversal stage, a claimant is advised that they can add further evidence to support their claim. For example, a claimant can ask the NHSBSA to contact healthcare providers to obtain evidence of further treatment received since their original claim.

Under the government’s rules for the VDPS, there is no limit on the number of times a claimant can request a mandatory reversal, and there is no time limit.

There have been 32 mandatory reversals that have resulted in an award.

<strong>How many mandatory reversal decisions have resulted in causation being removed?</strong>

There have been 21 claims where the medical assessor initially recommended that, on the balance of probabilities, the vaccine did cause the disability in question (causation), and following a mandatory reversal the recommendation was that, on the balance of probabilities, the vaccine did not cause the disability in question.

<strong>Question 6 - How many appeals to the tribunal have been filed? </strong>

Under Section 21 of the FOIA, we are not required to provide information in response to a request if it is already reasonably accessible to you. 
 
The NHSBSA actively publishes information on claims made to the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS) on the Open Data Portal for both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 claims. 
 
To protect confidentiality, cells are intentionally left blank where changes equal fewer than five. 
 
You can find the Open Data Portal at: <br>
https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/vdps-covid-19 
 
Please see the following link to view the section 21 in full: <br>
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/36/section/21 

<strong>How many have received an outcome?</strong> 

If a claimant disagrees with the medical assessor’s decision following a mandatory reversal and they want to challenge it, they can either:
<ul>
<li>request a reversal – the claim will be assessed by a medical assessor again
<li>appeal the decision – the claim will be heard by a tribunal outside of the VDPS assessment process </ul>

Appeals are handled by HM Courts and Tribunals Service.

 50 appeals have received an outcome. 

<strong>Have any decisions been reversed?</strong>

A breakdown by outcome has not been provided. This is because it would provide a less than five figure and is therefore withheld under section 40(2) and section 41 of the FOIA as described above.

<strong>Question 7 - The figure 246 has been published for claims awarded on the dataset. How many of the claims that received an awarded had to wait over 12 months , 18 months, 24 months for an outcome. This being the date application was received by the VDPS to the date the claimant was informed their claim had been accepted and an award would be given.</strong>

The length of time it takes to progress a claim to the medical assessment stage depends on how long it takes for the healthcare providers listed on the claim form to send medical records to us. We’re working with healthcare providers to speed up their response times to requests for medical records.

Of the 246 claims which have been awarded: <ul>
<li>126 claims took 12 to 18 months to reach an award
<li>48 claims took 18 to 24 months to reach an award
<li>16 claims took more than 24 months to reach an award
</ul>
<strong>Data Queries</strong>
<br><br>
Please contact <a href=mailto:foirequests@nhsbsa.nhs.uk>foirequests@nhsbsa.nhs.uk</a>  ensuring you quote the above reference if you have any specific questions regarding this response; or, if you feel you may be misunderstanding or misinterpreting the information; or, if you plan on publishing the data.
<br><br>
<strong>Reusing the data and copyright</strong>
<br><br>
If you plan on producing a press or broadcast story based upon the data please contact <a href=mailto:communicationsteam@nhsbsa.nhs.uk>communicationsteam@nhsbsa.nhs.uk</a>. This is important to ensure that the figures are not misunderstood or misrepresented.
<br><br>
The information supplied to you continues to be protected by the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 and is subject to NHSBSA copyright. This information is licenced under the terms of the Open Government Licence detailed at: <br> http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
<br><br>
Should you wish to re-use the information you must include the following statement: “NHSBSA Copyright 2026” This information is licenced under the terms of the Open Government Licence:<br>
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
<br><br>
Failure to do so is a breach of the terms of the licence.
<br><br>
Information you receive which is not subject to NHSBSA Copyright continues to be protected by the copyright of the person, or organisation, from which the information originated. Please obtain their permission before reproducing any third party (non NHSBSA Copyright) information.


Tags: NHSBSA corporate, Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme, nhsbsa, vdps
Organization: Freedom of Information Disclosure Log