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The total expenditure associated with the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS) has been disclosed for the first time, following a parliamentary question posed by Sir Christopher Chope, a Conservative backbench MP. Health minister Dame Diana Johnson revealed that from April 2022 to March 2026, £83 million was allocated to staffing, administration, and medical evaluations related to the scheme. This figure highlights the scale of resources dedicated to managing the VDPS over this period.
Applicants to the VDPS must undergo evaluation by an independent medical professional to determine whether they meet the criteria of “severe disablement.” Successful claimants are eligible to receive a one-time, tax-free payment of £120,000. However, the application process is often lengthy, potentially lasting several months or even years. Government data indicates a rise in the costs linked to these medical assessments, increasing from £4.3 million in 2022/23 to an anticipated £19.3 million by 2025/26. To date, payouts to those who suffered injury or death following Covid vaccination have reached £31.6 million, based on data current to June 2026.
The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), responsible for administering the scheme, explained that the administrative and medical assessor expenses are closely tied to the volume of claims received. Since the administration of the scheme transferred to NHSBSA in November 2021, there has been a notable surge in the number of claimants. This increase has directly impacted the overall costs of running the VDPS, reflecting the scheme’s expanding demand.
Criticism of the scheme has come from organizations such as Vaccine Injured and Bereaved UK (VIBUK), which supports affected families. VIBUK’s representative, Kate Scott—whose husband was left severely disabled by the AstraZeneca Covid vaccine—described the scheme as inadequate, stating, “It offers too little, too late, to too few and the cost of running it shows how inefficient it is.” Scott urged the government to implement reforms based on recommendations from the Covid public inquiry, particularly the suggestion by inquiry chair Baroness Heather Hallett to increase payouts and link compensation more closely to the severity of injury. The Department for Health and Social Care has indicated that it is “carefully considering” these proposals and will provide a response shortly, while also working to streamline the claims process. Meanwhile, the Taxpayers’ Alliance has expressed concern over the high administrative costs relative to payouts, calling for a government review to reduce bureaucracy and ensure more funds reach those harmed
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