Coving Vacinnation Damages Payout

Britons who suffered severe side effects from the Covid vaccine have been paid £20million by the Government, MailOnline can reveal. 

Data acquired under the Freedom of Information Act shows 168 people have been told they are eligible for the Vaccine Damage Payment — a £120,000 tax-free sum — due to injuries from a Covid jab.

Almost all of these are related the AstraZeneca vaccine, which triggered a blood clotting complication that was so rare it was missed in original clinical trials.  

Another 592 claims are waiting for an outcome, meaning the bill could rise closer to the £100million mark, if they are accepted.

More than 11,000 claims had been made by April this year — double the number submitted in the previous year.

However, the vast majority have been rejected.

While some were due to victims being unable to be prove their injuries were caused by a vaccine, at least 324 applicants were told it was because their injury did not meet a 60 per cent severe disability threshold.

This means that even though their injury is accepted to have been caused by a jab, they won't see a penny. This is even if they are assessed by a medic as being 59 per cent disabled.

The 60 per cent threshold, which covers injuries like losing a limb, a sense like your sight, or complete paralysis, is one of many criticisms of the scheme. 

You may have had a combined vaccination against a number of the diseases listed. For example, you might have been vaccinated against DTP (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis) or MMR (measles, mumps and rubella).

You may also be able to get a payment if you’re severely disabled because either:

It comes amid calls to overhaul the existing scheme, boosting the payment as well as reforming its eligibility criteria and payout structure. 

One of the key criticisms cited by campaigners is the all-or-nothing payment of £120,000.

They argue the payment doesn't go far enough for those most severely disabled by a vaccine injury, such as those who have suffered brain injuries, unable to work and facing ongoing care costs for the rest of their lives.

However, those who receive a payout under the scheme can still pursue private legal action against the Government to secure more damages.

Campaigners note that the £120,000 figure was set in 2007 and hasn't kept pace with inflation and the rising cost of living. 

According to figures from the Bank of England, if the sum had increased alongside inflation payments, it would now be just over £195,000.

Another criticism is the length of time it takes for victims to get payment.

MailOnline has spoken to some successful applicants who had to wait nearly two years to see a penny of the £120,000 sum. 

They said this added to stress of being unable to work due to disability and having to rely on their savings to survive. 

Others have previously told this website how year-long delays had left them with no option but to sell their homes and rely on food banks. 

And some families, surviving on benefits such as Universal Credit following the death or disability of a main breadwinner from a jab injury, have had this state support reduced or removed entirely, with Government classifying the £120,000 as 'income'. 

But some Brits never see a penny at all, due to the scheme's 60 per cent disability cut-off.

Those injured by a vaccine must either be killed or be at least 60 per cent disabled by their injury, as assessed by a medic, for they or their families to get any money. 

This feature, described as 'cruel' by critics, means Brits with lesser, but with potentially still life changing injuries, get nothing. 

Campaigners have called for £120,000 all-or-nothing payment to be reformed so those with lesser injuries still get something in recognition of their suffering.

At the other end of the scale, those severely disabled by the jab say the £120,000 doesn't recognise the differing extent of their injuries.