Britain to cover COVID-19 vaccine side-effects under damages scheme


Deprecated: strlen(): Passing null to parameter #1 ($string) of type string is deprecated in /home/medicircle/public_html/script_newsdetails.php on line 75
▴ Britain to cover COVID-19 vaccine side-effects under damages scheme
Britain will pay individuals who suffer any severe side-effects from COVID-19 vaccines under an existing program.

Britain will pay individuals who suffer any severe side-effects from COVID-19 vaccines under an existing program, the government said on Thursday, ahead of a rollout of Pfizer and BioNTech’s vaccine in the country following emergency approval.

COVID-19 will be added as a "precautionary step" to the list of diseases covered for potential liabilities under the Vaccine Damage Payments Scheme (VDPS), the Department of Health and Social Care said. It added that vaccines would be deployed only after stringent checks. 

Compensation for any possible side-effects from a COVID-19 vaccine has been the subject of much debate in recent months, as drugmakers and governments around the world have worked in record time to develop and approve vaccines against the illness which has created havoc worldwide.

Britain's VDPS was set up in 1979 and covers victims of side-effects caused by common vaccines, such as those against measles, influenza, smallpox, and tetanus. In 2009 the vaccine against the H1N1 swine flu was also briefly added to the list.

Under the scheme, individuals are entitled to a lump sum capped at 120,000 pounds ($161,676) if they can prove to have been seriously disabled as a result of a vaccination.

The scheme is meant to dissuade people from seeking compensation through lengthy and costly court proceedings but has been criticized for the cap and its restrictive conditions.

“The current scheme is not really adequate for the current situation. If adverse events occur, the route to compensation is too complicated. It would be much better if the government set up a bespoke scheme for COVID-19,” said Duncan Fairgrieve, of the British Institute of International and Comparative Law.

Britain said it would continue to monitor the safety of Pfizer and BioNTech’s vaccine after the country on Wednesday became the first in the Western world to approve a COVID-19 vaccine.

The emergency use authorization does not include liabilities, however, unlike a conditional approval granted by the European Union.

Tags : #Britain #Pfizer #BioNTech #Covid19 #Covid19Vaccine #VaccineSideEffects #BritainGovernment #Compensation #VDPS #WesternWorld #OtherDiseases #CovidUpdates

Related Stories

Loading Please wait...

-Advertisements-




Trending Now

Stethoscopes in the Line of Fire: India’s Medical Army Prepares for CrisisMay 10, 2025
Prescription Denied: Why Heart Failure Patients in India Aren’t Getting the Right MedicinesMay 10, 2025
Nipah Returns: How One Woman’s Diagnosis Sparked a Statewide Health EmergencyMay 10, 2025
Is Teleconsultation Legit? How to Choose the Right Online DoctorMay 10, 2025
Ozempic, Mounjaro, and the Weight Loss Drug Revolution: What Patients Need to KnowMay 10, 2025
IGP Launches Flower Fiesta and Creative Workshops to Celebrate Moms NationwideMay 09, 2025
Conflicts and crises intensify the need for gender equality and health equityMay 09, 2025
Swipe. Click. Risk? When Medicines Arrive Faster Than Rules Can Keep UpMay 09, 2025
Biological Age vs Real Age: What If Your Body Is Lying to You?May 09, 2025
Turn Up the Volume, Turn Down the Fat: The Sonic Slimming ScienceMay 09, 2025
A Glimpse into the Eyes to Save the Kidneys: AI's Revolutionary Advancement in Diabetic CareMay 08, 2025
Will Weight-Loss Drugs Solve the Obesity Crisis or Just Create More Problems?May 08, 2025
Could ₹37 Crore in Funding Be the Secret to Unlocking the Future of Healthcare Benefits?May 08, 2025
A film on the incredibly rare and endangered Cantor’s giant softshell turtle found in Kerala wins Best Documentary – Jury Award at the prestigious 15th Dada Saheb Phalke Film Festival 2025May 08, 2025
Everest Medicines Limited Everest Medicines Announces NMPA Full Approval of NEFECON, Broadening Treatment Access for IgA Nephropathy Patients in ChinaMay 08, 2025
Is Irregular Periods Normal: What Every Woman Should Know, According to a GynecologistMay 08, 2025
India Marks World Thalassaemia Day Amidst Rising Concerns Over Access to CareMay 07, 2025
CARE Hospitals, Hi-Tec City Hosts a ‘MOM’orable Celebration Ahead of Mother’s DayMay 07, 2025
Plastics in Our Bloodstream: Are We Paying for Convenience with Our Hearts?May 07, 2025
The Sparkling Lie or the Secret Elixir? Champagne and Cardiac Claims Under the MicroscopeMay 07, 2025