The administration of the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme has incurred costs of £83 million since April 2022, significantly surpassing the £32 million disbursed to victims. Over 24,000 claims have been filed, primarily related to the AstraZeneca vaccine, yet only 264 claims have been approved as of now.
Officials attribute the rising costs to the increasing number of claims and the expenses associated with medical assessments. The government is currently reviewing the scheme in light of these findings and the recommendations from the COVID-19 public inquiry.
With costs outpacing victim payouts, watch for potential reforms to the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme. The government's response to the COVID-19 Inquiry's recommendations could reshape how claims are processed, aiming for efficiency and better support for affected families.