FOI-02351

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  <h3 class="nhsuk-warning-callout__label">
    <span role="text">
      <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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##Request

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) Please provide a breakdown of the vaccines involved in the claims that have received an outcome?

4) How many claims have been successful? Please provide a breakdown of which vaccine were used in the claims awarded.

5) How many claims have been rejected / unsuccessful?

6a) 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.

Please give a breakdown of levels of disability being rejected where causation has been accepted, in bands of disability level 0-19% 20% to 39%, 40% to 59%

6b) 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, 24 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 received a decision and how many decisions have been reversed resulting in an award?

10) How many appeals to the tribunal have been filed? What are the outcomes?

11) 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?’

12) How many have been determined? Of those determined how many have been allowed/ refused?

##Response

I can confirm that the NHSBSA holds the information you have requested 

All data as of 31 October 2024. 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 for questions 1 to 10 relate to COVID-19 vaccines.

Fewer than five  

Please be aware that I have decided not to release the full details where the total number of individuals falls below five. This is because the individuals 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 (FOIA). This is because it would breach the first data protection principle as:

a - it is not fair to disclose individual’s 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 individual.

Please click the below web link to see the exemption in full. www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/36/section/40

Breach of Confidentiality
 
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 Freedom of Information Act.   

Please click the below web link to see the exemption in full.   

Question 1
How many claims have been made to the VDPS due to an adverse reaction to a covid vaccine to date?

16,824 claims have been received by the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS).


Question 2– 
How many claimants have been notified of an outcome?

8,806 claimants have been notified of an outcome.

Question 3 – 
Please provide a breakdown of the vaccines involved in the claims that have received an outcome?

Of the 8,806 claims which have received an outcome, 4,107 relate to AstraZeneca, 3,034 relate to Pfizer, 445 relate to Moderna and 1,220  relate to other vaccines, or more than one COVID-19 vaccine and therefore we are unable to categorise them. For example, where a claim relates to an initial vaccine from one manufacturer and a booster from another.

Question 4 – 
How many claims have been successful? Please provide a breakdown of which vaccine were used in the claims awarded.

Since disclosure of FOI-02252 whereby 188  claimants were notified they were entitled to a Vaccine Damage Payment, this number has increased by fewer than 5.

Of the total number of successful claimants, fewer than five were Pfizer and Moderna and the remaining claims were AstraZeneca. Therefore, as detailed above in accordance with section 40 (2) and section 41 of FOIA, we are unable to provide an updated breakdown by manufacturer.

Question 5– 
How many claims have been rejected / unsuccessful?

Please be advised since the disclosure of FOI-02252 where we disclosed 7,748 claims have been rejected, and a further 716 did not meet the criteria for medical assessment, these figures have increased by fewer than five. We have therefore decided not to disclose this exact figure under section 40 (2) and section 41 of the FOIA because the small changes in numbers when compared to figures provided previously could result in claimants being identified.  Details of these exemptions are outlined above.

Question 6a – 
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.

Please give a breakdown of levels of disability being rejected where causation has been accepted, in bands of disability level 0-19% 20% to 39%, 40% to 59%

8,208 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). 

406 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.

Of the 406 claims, 258 relate to AstraZeneca, 109 relate to Pfizer and 32 relate to Moderna. The remaining claims relate to more than one COVID-19 vaccine and therefore we are unable to categorise them. For example, where a claim relates to an initial vaccine from one manufacturer and a booster from another.

The requested breakdown by level of disability 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.

Question 6b-
Is it possible to give the conditions that have met the criteria e.g VITT, GBS?

We have refined how we record conditions in relation to awarded claims. The list of conditions now covers the main condition the independent medical assessor has identified.  The main conditions of the claims awarded a Vaccine Damage Payment:
   
•	Acute allergic reaction
•	Anaphylaxis
•	Bacterial pneumonia  
•	Bell's palsy
•	Bilateral sequential optic neuropathy
•	Capillary leak syndrome
•	Guillain-Barre syndrome
•	Immune thrombocytopenia
•	 Inflammation of lungs 
•	Myocardial Infarction
•	Myocarditis/pericarditis
•	Pulmonary Embolus
•	Stroke/ CVA
•	Transverse myelitis
•	VITT/Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis
•	Vaccine-induced vasculitis


Question 7 – 
How many claims have been waiting over 12 months, 18 months, 24 months for a decision?

973 claims were received more than 12 months ago and have not yet reached an outcome. Of these, 360 claims were received more than 18 months ago and have not yet reached an outcome.

Of these, the total number of claims received more than 24 months ago that have not yet reached an outcome has changed by fewer than five since the disclosure of FOI-02148 where the total was confirmed as 119. Therefore, as detailed above in accordance with section 40 (2) and section 41 of FOIA we are unable to provide this figure.

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.

Question 8 – 
How many of the successful claims involved a fatality?

70   claims where an award outcome has been communicated were made on behalf of someone who has died.

Question 9 – 
How many requests for a mandatory reconsideration have been received, how many have received a decision and how many decisions have been reversed resulting in an award?

1,320 requests for a mandatory reversal have been received. 

736 mandatory reversals have been reassessed and have reached a decision. 

Please be advised since the disclosure of FOI-02148, where we disclosed that 16    claimants have been notified that they are entitled to a Vaccine Damage Payment and the remaining have been rejected, this figure has increased by fewer than five. We have therefore decided not to disclose this exact figure under section 40 (2) and section 41 of the FOIA. Details of these exemptions are outlined above.

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.

Question 10 – 
How many appeals to the tribunal have been filed? What are the outcomes?

44 appeals have been received and are awaiting to be heard by a tribunal. Fewer than five have reached an outcome. We have therefore decided not to disclose this exact figure under section 40 (2) and section 41 of the FOIA. Details of these exemptions are outlined above.

Question 11 – 
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

How many have been determined? Of those determined how many have been allowed/ refused

685 claims not involving a COVID-19 vaccine have been received by the VDPS.

Fewer than five 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. We have therefore decided not to disclose these exact figures under section 40 (2) and section 41 of the FOIA. Details of these exemptions are outlined above.

Publishing this response

Please note that this information will be published on our Freedom of Information disclosure log at:

https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/foi-02351

Your personal details will be removed from the published response.

Data Queries

Please contact foirequests@nhsbsa.nhs.uk 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.

Reusing the data and copyright

If you plan on producing a press or broadcast story based upon the data please contact communicationsteam@nhsbsa.nhs.uk. 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 2024” 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: Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme
Organization: Freedom of Information Disclosure Log