FOI-01296

Thank you for your request for information about the following:

I hope this email finds you well. I am writing to request information regarding the COVID-19 vaccines that have been authorized for use in the United Kingdom. As a concerned citizen, I would like to gain a better understanding of the vaccines that have been approved for their specific characteristics. I believe this information is essential for promoting transparency and ensuring public confidence in the vaccination program. Please could I make the following freedom of information request:

a- Please provide the total number of vaccine injury claims submitted to the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) related to COVID-19 vaccines.

b- Can you provide the number of adjudications compensated and dismissed for vaccine injury claims related to COVID-19 vaccines?

c- How many awards have been paid by type and amount for vaccine injury claims related to COVID-19 vaccines?

d- Can you provide the breakdown of claims by vaccine type (Oxford/AstraZeneca Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) for COVID-19 vaccine injury cases?

e- Please categorize the adjudications by vaccine type for COVID-19 vaccine injury claims.

I understand that processing this request may take some time, and I am willing to wait for a thorough and comprehensive response. If any fees apply for processing this request, please inform me in advance. 
I appreciate your attention to this matter and the efforts of the MHRA in ensuring the safety and effectiveness of vaccines in the UK. Your prompt and transparent response will greatly contribute to public awareness and trust in the vaccination program.

You clarified your request as follows:

As per the information available on the NHS Business Services Authority website, the VDPS administers a one-off tax-free payment of £120,000 to successful applicants where, on very rare occasions, a vaccine has caused severe disablement. I understand that this scheme is designed to provide financial support to individuals who have been injured due to vaccination, including COVID-19 vaccines. I am particularly interested in obtaining specific information related to COVID-19 vaccine injury claims under the VDPS.
I would be grateful if you could kindly confirm if the VDPS is responsible for handling claims related to COVID-19 vaccines. If so, I would appreciate it if you could provide the following information:

1.	The total number of claims received by the VDPS specifically related to COVID-19 vaccines.
2.	The number of claims that have been awarded and the number of claims that have been rejected for COVID-19 vaccine injuries.
3.	The number of awards given by vaccine manufacturers, specifically including Oxford/AstraZeneca, Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, and Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) for COVID-19 vaccines.
4.	A breakdown of the types of injuries reported in the claims related to COVID-19 vaccines.
I believe that having this information will contribute to a better understanding of the compensation process under the VDPS in the context of COVID-19 vaccinations. Please feel free to include any additional relevant details that might shed light on the assessment criteria or procedures followed in evaluating claims.

Your clarified request was received on 28 July 2023 and I am dealing with it under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

##Response

For information about the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS), including a list of the vaccines covered by the scheme, visit: www.gov.uk/vaccine-damage-payment/eligibility  
In December 2020, ministers agreed to add COVID-19 vaccines to the scheme, to demonstrate Government confidence in the safety profile of any vaccine being used in the COVID-19 vaccination programme. For more information , visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-to-add-covid-19-to-vaccine-damage-payments-scheme 
The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) took over administration of the VDPS from the Department for World and Pensions (DWP) on 1 November 2021.

For information about the claim process, including guidance the independent medical assessor uses, visit: www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/vaccine-damage-payment-scheme-vdps-claim-process
		
###Questions 1-4
Under Section 21 of the Act, we are not required to provide information in response to a request if it is already reasonably accessible to you. Recent FOI requests which answer these questions are available from web links:

June data: https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/foi-01231 

July data: https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/foi-01295 

Organization: Freedom of Information Disclosure Log