The Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS), established in 1979 to provide financial support for rare vaccine-related injuries, has faced increased scrutiny following the release of cost figures. Between April 2022 and March 2026, the program spent £83m on staffing, administration, and medical reviews—substantially exceeding the £31.6m distributed to claimants through June 2026. Medical assessment costs alone increased from £4.3m in 2022/23 to £19.3m in 2025/26.
Since the pandemic, applications to the scheme have surged dramatically, with 24,260 claims filed since November 2021. However, only 264 have been approved. Applicants seeking the one-time, tax-free payment of £120,000 must undergo independent medical review to demonstrate “severe disablement,” a process that can extend months or years. The National Health Service Business Services Authority, which administers the scheme, attributed rising costs to the increased number of claims received.
Critics have questioned the scheme’s efficiency. The Taxpayers’ Alliance called for urgent government review and cost reduction measures, while the campaign group Vaccine Injured and Bereaved UK characterized the program as unfit for purpose, stating it provides “too little, too late, to too few.” The Covid inquiry’s chair earlier recommended increasing payouts and basing them on the degree of injury suffered.
The Department for Health and Social Care stated it is considering the inquiry’s reform recommendations and working to expedite claims processing. The government said it would respond shortly to proposed changes aimed at improving the program’s effectiveness.
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