Covid Inquiry calls for reform of Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme
The UK Covid‑19 Inquiry has published Module 4 of its Final Reports, examining vaccines and therapeutics during the pandemic, including their development, authorisation, safety monitoring and delivery across the UK.
Posted on 17 April 2026
While concluding that the Covid‑19 vaccination programme saved many lives and was, overall, a public health success, the Inquiry chaired by Baroness Hallett explicitly acknowledged that a number of people were seriously injured or died as a result of vaccine side effects and that the Government has a responsibility to ensure those individuals and families are properly supported.
Central to the Inquiry’s findings are the failings of the current Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS), with Baroness Hallett concluding that the scheme, which provides a one‑off lump sum for those severely injured or bereaved as a result of vaccination, “requires reform”.
Baroness Hallet’s has recommended the government at a minimum:
- Increases the £120,000 payment, at least in line with inflation to date.
- Applies annual increases in line with inflation.
- Introduces multiple levels of payment, commensurate with the degree of injury suffered.
- Makes sure there are any transitional arrangements necessary to provide for fairness between applicants to the existing scheme and applicants to the revised scheme.
Although the Inquiry did not make findings on individual cases, it recognised that for those severely affected by the Covid-19 vaccine, the consequences were often devastating, resulting in death or life‑changing injury. Evidence was heard directly from vaccine‑injured and bereaved families, who described delays in diagnosis, gaps in clinical support, and significant obstacles in accessing compensation through the VDPS.
Campaigners and lawyers representing vaccine‑injured families have long argued that meaningful reform of the VDPS is overdue and say the Inquiry has now provided the Government with a clear opportunity to act.
Leigh Day partner, Sarah Moore, who represents 48 claimants who have been seriously injured or bereaved as a result of a side-effect of the AstraZeneca (AZUK) Covid-19 vaccine, and who provided witness evidence to the Inquiry, said:
“This is a watershed moment. Baroness Hallett has recommended wholesale reform of the VDPS with retrospective effect to include the losses suffered by our clients. If the government now takes up these recommendations, then they will have delivered a scheme that can truly contribute to increasing vaccine confidence in the UK. Our clients can do no more. Now it is for the government to act.”
Sarah Moore
Leading environment and product safety lawyer
Covid Inquiry to hear from lawyer taking on AstraZeneca on behalf of those seriously injured or bereaved as a result of Covid-19 vaccine
Leigh Day lawyer Sarah Moore will give evidence to Module 4 of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry concerning the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS) on Wednesday 29 January 2025.
AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine Claim
Leigh Day is representing 50 individuals and families who claim they suffered a serious and, in some instances deadly, complication of the AstraZeneca vaccine.