Recommendation COVID-M4.5: Reform Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme
From Module 4: Vaccines and Therapeutics, published 16 April 2026.
Recommendation
The UK government must reform the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme as soon as possible. The reform should include as a minimum: increasing the £120,000 payment, at least in line with inflation to date; subsequently applying annual increases in line with inflation; introducing multiple levels of payment, commensurate with the degree of injury suffered; and any transitional arrangements necessary to provide for fairness between applicants to the existing scheme and applicants to the revised scheme.
In brief (written by this site)
The Inquiry asked the Department of Health and Social Care to reform vaccine damage payments. In October 2026, the UK government accepted the need for reform and committed to reviewing the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS) to ensure it is fit for purpose (Department of Health and Social Care and Cabinet Office response, Oct 2026). The department stated that it is considering a range of options and will work with affected families, with further details to follow in due course (Department of Health and Social Care and Cabinet Office response, Oct 2026). Its response did not mention the recommended payment increase, annual inflation indexing, multiple payment levels, or transitional arrangements (Department of Health and Social Care and Cabinet Office response, Oct 2026). The record holds nothing dated later than the response of October 2026 (Department of Health and Social Care and Cabinet Office response, Oct 2026).
Sources
AI-generated summary of the record on this page, checked by a second model and automatic checks, 19 Oct 2026. The record below is the sources' own words.
Government response
The government is grateful to everyone who came forward to be vaccinated and played their part in keeping people safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. We take the findings of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry and its clear recommendations in relation to reforms of the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme seriously.
The government recognises that, in rare circumstances, some individuals have died or have experienced other severe adverse outcomes following vaccination and that those people and their families suffered harm as a result. We would like to thank those individuals and their families for their bravery in sharing their powerful testimonies during the Inquiry, and for their continued engagement.
The government agrees with the Inquiry that there should be appropriate support available for those who experience severe adverse outcomes following vaccination, and understands the concerns raised about the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme and the experiences of those who have engaged with it.
In addition to the recommendations from the Inquiry, the government recognises separate concerns have been raised around the administrative costs of the scheme, as set out in recent Parliamentary Questions.
The government therefore accepts that there is a need for reform of the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme, and is committed to reviewing the scheme to ensure it is fit for purpose and delivered effectively. As part of this, we will work closely with the vaccine injured and their families as we consider how the scheme could be strengthened in the future.
The Inquiry’s findings and recommendations will be central to this ongoing work as the government considers a range of options for potential reforms. The government will provide further details in due course, including through UK Covid-19 Inquiry implementation updates.
Earlier statement from Department of Health and Social Care (1)
The Government is actively considering the recommendations of the inquiry on reform of the VDPS.
Delivery
Department of Health and Social Care states no delivery position (9 June 2026)
As set out by the Prime Minister in his Written Ministerial Statement of 16 April responding to the publication of Module 4 of the COVID-19 Inquiry, the Government is carefully considering the findings of the inquiry, including the recommendations on reform of the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS), and will respond within six months of publication. The Government is actively considering the recommendations of the inquiry on reform of the VDPS.
From: Written question 6320: Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme
Site note: This is the Minister's written answer, for the Department of Health and Social Care, to a question asking whether the Government accepts the Module 4 recommendations on the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme. The question is the member's words, so it is not in the row. It is not a response to the recommendation: it says the Government is considering it and will respond within six months of the report.
Responsible bodies
Themes and tags
Who has spoken
- Department of Health and Social Care
Response, delivery statement