The situation
Real talk: navigating the UK’s Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS) has been a total mess for those seeking support. Following a major push from the UK Covid Inquiry, the government has finally committed to reviewing the program to make it actually work for people.
Why it’s giving: not fit for purpose
Baroness Hallett, the chair of the Covid Inquiry, didn't hold back in her latest report. She highlighted that the current system is "not sufficiently supportive" for the small percentage of people who have experienced harm from the Covid vaccine.
Currently, the system forces people to prove they are at least 60% disabled to qualify for help. With over 24,000 claims made—most linked to the AstraZeneca jab—only about 1% have actually received the one-off £120,000 payout. To make matters worse, the admin and assessment costs have reached a wild £83m since 2022, while only £32m has actually gone to victims. It’s a major L for efficiency.
The reaction
Campaign groups like Vaccine Injured and Bereaved UK are lowkey relieved that their struggles are finally being acknowledged, but they’re not celebrating yet. They’ve been fighting for over five years, and the government’s vague promise to "look further" at reforms is giving zero clarity. They want a real timeline and solid action, not just more bureaucratic talk.
Why it matters
While the AstraZeneca vaccine is scientifically credited with saving millions of lives globally, for those who did suffer side effects, the current support structure has been a massive hurdle. The government has promised to work with families and the other nations of the UK to fix the system, but until there’s a concrete plan, the families impacted are left waiting for answers.
