Those seriously injured or bereaved as a result of Covid-19 vaccine hope upcoming report will trigger long‑awaited reform of vaccine compensation scheme

The group of 48 claimants who have been seriously injured or bereaved as a result of a side-effect of the AstraZeneca (AZUK) Covid-19 vaccine are represented by Leigh Day partner Sarah Moore.

Module 4 of the Covid-19 Inquiry has looked at the issues relating to the development of Covid-19 vaccines and the implementation of the vaccine rollout programme in the UK. Since early 2024 the Inquiry has heard extensive evidence from families who have lost loved ones or suffered life-changing injuries, as well as expert testimony from legal and medical professionals on the structural shortcomings of the VDPS. 

Established under the 1979 Vaccine Damage Payment Act, the VDPS has been under public scrutiny since the pandemic, with lawyers and campaign groups arguing the scheme offers too little support, too late, to too few people.  

Currently, to be eligible for VDPS compensation, capped at £120,000, applicants must meet a 60 per cent disability threshold, criticised for being based on “outdated” concepts of industrial injury and disablement.

In January 2025, Sarah Moore gave evidence to the Inquiry setting out the barriers faced by those seeking support through the VDPS and the urgent need for a modern compensation system capable of responding fairly to rare but serious adverse events.

Earlier in the Inquiry’s hearings, testimony was given by Kate Scott, who spoke on behalf of Vaccine Injured and Bereaved UK after her husband, Jamie Scott, suffered vaccine-induced Thrombocytopenia and Thrombosis following the AstraZeneca (AZUK) vaccine in 2021. Jamie has been left permanently disabled by the condition and is one of the 48 individuals represented by Sarah Moore who have been seriously injured or bereaved as a result of a side-effect of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

As the publication of the Module 4 report approaches, the group are hopeful that the Inquiry will recommend comprehensive reform of the VDPS, ensuring that the scheme is fair, accessible, properly resourced and reflective of the realities faced by those who have suffered the unintended consequences of the vaccination programme.

Sarah Moore said: 
 
“It is a privilege to represent individuals and families who have shown extraordinary courage in sharing their experiences with the Inquiry. The Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme, in its current form, fails to provide timely or adequate support to those who have been seriously injured or bereaved due to vaccine side effects. As we look ahead to the Module 4 report on 16 April, our clients hope to see clear and decisive recommendations for reform. A modern, fair, and properly resourced VDPS would not only support those already affected, but would strengthen public confidence in vaccination programmes by ensuring that rare adverse events are met with compassion, accountability and an appropriate level of care.