FOI-03076

Thank you for your request for information about the following:

<strong>Request</strong>

<i>‘I respectfully request the following information for the UK Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme:

1.	The number of claims received relating to seasonal influenza (flu) vaccines where the claimant alleges they developed narcolepsy as a result.
2.	The number of claims approved, and number of payments made, specifically for narcolepsy attributed to seasonal flu vaccines.
3.	The total amount paid out under these approvals.
4.	The date ranges, or individual dates, when these claims were submitted and decided.
5.	Any tribunal or appeal decisions (e.g., First Tier Tribunal, Upper Tribunal, Court of Appeal) involving seasonal flu vaccines and narcolepsy outcomes.
	
If possible, please also provide:

•	A breakdown by year (e.g., 2010–2025), and<br>
•	Whether any compensation was paid above or below £120,000 in individual cases.’</i>

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) received your request on 11 August 2025. 

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 July 2025 and relates to Adult Flu vaccinations only. 

We are unable to provide data for claims that were assessed by the Department for Work and Pensions, the previous administrator, as the condition was not recorded by them. Therefore, the data relates to claims received by the NHSBSA from 1 November 2021.

All data relates to assessments where the outcome has been communicated to the claimant, and we have searched for the term “narcolepsy” only.

<strong>Question 1 - The number of claims received relating to seasonal influenza (flu) vaccines where the claimant alleges they developed narcolepsy as a result. </strong>

The following shows where the specific condition has been identified in medical records for claims that have been assessed. Claims could be in relation to a mixture of the listed condition and other conditions.

0 medical assessment reports contain the search term “narcolepsy”. 

<strong>Question 2 - The number of claims approved, and number of payments made, specifically for narcolepsy attributed to seasonal flu vaccines.</strong> 

The following shows where the specific condition has been identified in medical records for claims that have been assessed. Claims could be in relation to a mixture of the listed condition and other conditions.

0 medical assessment reports for awarded claims contain the search term “narcolepsy”. 

Under the Vaccine Damage Payments Act 1979 to qualify for a Vaccine Damage Payment, it must be proved that an eligible vaccine was received and:

• on the balance of probabilities, the vaccine caused the disability<br>
• the resulting disablement is severe

Severely disabled means at least 60% as defined by the principles for assessing the extent of disablement. These are set out in section 103 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 and the Social Security (General Benefit) Regulations 1982:

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1992/4/contents<br>
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1982/1408/schedule/2

<strong>Question 3 - The total amount paid out under these approvals.</strong> 

The following shows where the specific condition has been identified in medical records for claims that have been assessed. Claims could be in relation to a mixture of the listed condition and other conditions.

There have been no payments made in relation to medical assessment reports that contain the search term “narcolepsy”.

<strong>Question 4 - The date ranges, or individual dates, when these claims were submitted and decided.</strong> 

There are no claims where “narcolepsy” is mentioned.

<strong>Question 5 - Any tribunal or appeal decisions (e.g., First Tier Tribunal, Upper Tribunal, Court of Appeal) involving seasonal flu vaccines and narcolepsy outcomes. If possible, please also provide:<br>

•	A breakdown by year (e.g., 2010–2025), and<br>
•	Whether any compensation was paid above or below £120,000 in individual cases.</strong> 

There have been no tribunals or appeal decisions which mention “narcolepsy”.

A Vaccine Damage Payment is a one-off payment of £120,000. It is not treated as compensation.

<strong>Data Queries</strong>

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.

<strong>Reusing the data and copyright</strong>

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.

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: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Should you wish to re-use the information you must include the following statement: “NHSBSA Copyright 2025” This information is licenced under the terms of the Open Government Licence:<br>
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Failure to do so is a breach of the terms of the licence.

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