FOI-01231

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  <h3 class="nhsuk-warning-callout__label">
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      <span class="nhsuk-u-visually-hidden">Important: </span>
      2026-01-16: Correction identified in Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme data    </span>
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  <p>An error has been identified in the underlying dataset used to produce this Freedom of Information (FOI) response. The issue relates to the metric “cumulative total of awarded claims to bereaved claimants” within Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS) COVID-19 claim volumes and outcomes data.</p> 

  <p>The error has since been corrected in the published VDPS datasets. However, the data contained within this FOI response has not been retrospectively updated, as FOI responses reflect the information held at the time of disclosure.</p>
  <p>We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and recommend that users refer to the amended datasets for the most accurate and up-to-date figures:</p>
<p><a href="https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/vdps-non-covid-19">https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/vdps-non-covid-19</a></p>
<p><a href="https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/vdps-covid-19">https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/vdps-covid-19</a></p>
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Thank you for your request for information about the following: 

*1) How many claims have been made to the VDPS due to an adverse reaction to a covid vaccine to date?*

*2)How many claimants have been notified of an outcome?* 

*3)How many claims have been successful? Please provide a breakdown of which vaccine were used in the claims awarded. *

*4)How many claims have been rejected / unsuccessful?* 

*5)What are the reasons for claims being rejected (causation, not meeting 60% threshold, ineligible to claim.) Please provide numbers? Please provide a breakdown of which vaccine was used in the claims when causation was accepted.*

*6) Is it possible to give the conditions that have met the criteria e.g VITT, GBS?.’* 

*7) How many claims have been waiting over 12 months, 18 months for a decision?* 

*8) How many of the successful claims involved a fatality?* 

*9) How many requests for a mandatory reconsideration have been received? How many have been determined? Of those determined how many have been allowed/ refused?* 

*10) How many claims not involving a Covid vaccine have been received since the NHSBSA took over administering the scheme Nov 21? How many have been awarded, and how many have been rejected on failing the 60% disability criteria?* 

##Summary of Response 

All data as of 20 June 2023.  

All data relates to claims received by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) and those transferred from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on 1 November 2021.  

All figures provided relate to COVID-19 vaccines. 

Please be aware that I have decided not to release the full details where the total number of patients falls below five. This is because the patients could be identified, when combined with other information that may be in the public domain or reasonably available. 

 

This information falls under the exemption in section 40 subsections 2 and 3 (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 patients’ 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 patients. 

 

6,183 claims have been received by the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS). 

2,101 claimants have been notified of an outcome. 

119 claimants have been notified they are entitled to a Vaccine Damage Payment.  

Of the 119 claims, fewer than five were Pfizer and the remaining claims were AstraZeneca. 

1,982 claims have been rejected, and a further 137 did not meet the criteria for medical assessment. 

Of the 1,982 claims: 
 
1,820 claims were unsuccessful because the independent medical assessor recommended that, on the balance of probabilities, the vaccine did not cause the disability in question (causation). 

162 claims were unsuccessful because, although the claims met the criteria for causation, the independent medical assessor recommended that the vaccine has not caused severe disablement. Under the VDPS severe disablement means at least 60% disabled, based on Schedule 2 of The Social Security (General Benefit) Regulations 1982.  
 

The 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. 
 

Conditions of the 119 claims awarded a Vaccine Damage Payment: 

Anaphylaxis									 

Vaccine-induced thrombocytopenia and thrombosis (VITT) 

Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis						 

Guillain-Barre syndrome								 

Immune thrombocytopenia							 

Transverse myelitis								 

Bell's palsy									 

Stroke/ CVA									 

Myocardial Infarction								 

Myocarditis 

Pericarditis								 

Epigastric pain  

Back pain							 

Acute sagittal sinus thrombosis 

Cortical vein thrombosis			 

Headaches 

Dizziness 

Confusion 

Seizures 

Extensive blood clot in the brain				 

Cardiopulmonary Thromboembolism						 

Bilateral Sequential Optic Neuropathy						 

Vaccine-induced Vasculitis							 

Bacterial pneumonia 

Immune response to vaccine 

Inflammation of lungs	 

Cause of death - acute allergic reaction						 

Multiple organ failure 

subarachnoid haemorrhage,  

Pneumonia 

Multiple blood clots throughout the body					 

Neuromyelitis optica 

Transverse myelitis					 

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) 

Mental health affected		 

Critical lower limb ischaemia with rhabdomylosis				 

Intracerebral haemorrhage (bleed in the brain)  

Confirmed thrombocytopaenia							 

Acute hypertension due to non-aneurysmal sub-arachnoid haemorrhage associated with vaccine administration and chronic heart disease	 

Swelling and rashes in face, chest and fingers 

Lost all sensation in upper limbs 

Loss of vision								 

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, the chronic form of Guillain-Barre syndrome	 

Brain death 

Death									 

 

604 claims were received more than 12 months ago and have not yet reached an outcome. Of these 604 claims, 139 claims were received more than 18 months ago and have not yet reached an outcome. 

As part of the process of the scheme, we need a full set of medical records for each claimant, and it can take time for the claimant’s healthcare providers to gather and securely supply copies of these records. 

Once sent for assessment, the time it takes for the independent medical assessor to review a claim can vary from case to case depending on the individual circumstances of each claim. 

44 of the claims where an award outcome has been communicated were made on behalf of someone who has died. 

220 requests for a mandatory reversal have been received.  12 mandatory reversal requests have been reassessed. Of these, fewer than five were notified they are entitled to a Vaccine Damage Payment. 

208 claims not involving a COVID-19 vaccine have been received by the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme.  

None of these claims have been awarded.  

Fewer than five claims were unsuccessful because, although the claim met the criteria for causation, the independent medical assessor recommended that the vaccine has not caused severe disablement. Under the VDPS severe disablement means at least 60% disabled, based on Schedule 2 of The Social Security (General Benefit) Regulations 1982. 

Tags: Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme
Organization: Freedom of Information Disclosure Log