Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many applications her Department has received under the Vaccine Damage Payments Act 1979 in respect of covid-19 vaccines; how many applications have been (a) rejected and (b) accepted; and how many staff are engaged in processing those applications.

The Department has received 437 applications under the Vaccine Damage Payments Act 1979 in respect of Covid-19 vaccines. All applications have been acknowledged and no applications have been rejected. All applications are subject to medical assessment to identify if, in light of all the available evidence, it is more probable than not that there is a link between vaccination and disablement.

Side effects of COVID-19 vaccines are rare and scientific understanding is continuing to grow. Following discussion with Department of Health and Social Care, DWP have now started the evidence gathering process for COVID-19 claims to allow the clinical assessment to happen, where the evidence has reached a position where a decision can be confidently made.

There are currently four members of DWP staff processing vaccine damage claims. The team are responsible for processing Child and Adult flu vaccination claims as well as recording, acknowledging and commencing the evidence gathering process on COVID-19 claims NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) will take over the administration of the VDPS on November 1^st 2021. In preparation for this, NHSBSA will be recruiting and training additional resource to undertake the administration of VDPS claims. DHSC own the policy.