Compensation claims on the rise due to Covid vaccines

Nearly 14,000 people in the UK have applied for government compensation due to alleged injuries caused by Covid vaccines, according to new figures.

Seb Sanders, a champion flat race jockey, has been advocating for his wife, Leona, who has been hospitalised following her three vaccinations. Freedom of Information requests reveal that payments have been made for various severe conditions, including strokes, heart attacks, dangerous blood clots, spinal cord inflammation, excessive swelling in the vaccinated limb, and facial paralysis.

Approximately 97 percent of the approved claims are linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine, with only a few payments issued for incidents related to Pfizer or Moderna. The Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS), established in 1979, has received around 16,000 applications overall, with the majority stemming from the Covid vaccine.

Seb Sanders has been fighting for his wife, who has been bedridden since receiving three Covid vaccines, although their claim for compensation was denied. Leona, 52, suffers from a rare autoimmune disorder known as granulomatosis, which causes blood vessel inflammation. Medical professionals advised that her condition would not be affected by the vaccine and might even render it ineffective due to her compromised immune system.

Leona received her first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine in February 2021 and followed up with a booster in April. "Just a day or two after that, she collapsed in the bathroom," Seb recounted. Initially, they didn't blame the vaccine, thinking nothing had been indicated as a risk. However, her health declined significantly after receiving a third vaccine, this time from Pfizer, in December, leading to paralysis that progressed from her feet.

She was then hospitalised at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, where she was diagnosed with transverse myelitis, an inflammation of the spinal cord recognised as a potential vaccine side effect.

For seven months, Leona was unable to walk, and even after a brief recovery in the summer of 2022, her condition worsened further after contracting Covid and developing sepsis while in the hospital. Seb stated, "The complications began just days after her vaccination," but the medical assessor dismissed their claim.

"The assessment concluded that she had a prior history of back pain and recurrent falls," Seb explained, "yet Leona was never prone to these issues before the jab. She was always active, spending time with the horses."

As a father of one from Bury St Edmunds, Seb expressed his disbelief at how they have been treated. "I would have previously shared scepticism about vaccine harm, but seeing people go about their daily lives while my wife suffers is profoundly unfair." He emphasised the need for a thorough investigation into these cases.

Despite emerging data on clotting incidents, the UK government continued to endorse the AstraZeneca vaccine, even as other countries, including Germany and France, halted its use by March 2021. Many applicants have been denied by medical assessors, citing inadequate evidence linking their health issues to the vaccine, while others were turned away for being "not disabled enough" to qualify. Successful applicants receive a one-time payment of £120,000, but only 175 payments have been made, which is less than two percent of total applications.

Over 5,500 claims have been rejected, and more than 519 were dismissed before any medical assessment took place. While nearly 1,000 individuals requested reconsideration of their cases, only 12 have had their decisions overturned. Nearly 350 claims were denied despite assessors acknowledging vaccine-related harm, arguing it did not result in "severe disablement." To qualify for a pay out, applicants must demonstrate at least 60 percent disability.

The government maintains that the VDPS is not meant to be a compensation scheme but provides assistance for claimants pursuing legal action against pharmaceutical companies. Nevertheless, many argue that the payments should suffice for affected individuals and families.

Despite millions receiving the vaccine without serious issues, it is estimated that vaccination may have saved 1.5 million lives in Europe, preventing a potential death toll of four million without the jabs. Last year, AstraZeneca acknowledged that its vaccine can, in rare instances, cause vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT).

They also began withdrawing the vaccine globally, stating newer vaccines targeting Covid-19 variants were now more effective. However, AstraZeneca received legal immunity early in the pandemic, meaning that even successful civil claims would ultimately be funded by UK taxpayers.

The sheer volume of claims has led to an increase in administrative staff handling the process, expanding from four to 80 last year. Over 700 individuals have been left waiting more than a year for a decision on their applications.

An NHS Business Services Authority spokesperson stated, "The Department of Health and Social Care oversees the VDPS, including its regulations regarding disability severity. Since 2021, we have been committed to improving the claim process and providing better support for claimants."

AstraZeneca expressed condolences to those affected and reiterated the safety profile of their vaccine, noting regulatory bodies consistently affirm that the benefits outweigh the risks of rare side effects. They also highlighted their role in combating the pandemic, with independent estimates indicating over six million lives saved in the vaccine's first year of use alone.

A Pfizer representative emphasised their commitment to patient safety and their diligence in monitoring and analysing reports of adverse effects, ensuring that the vaccine's benefits remain positive across all demographics.

The Johnson Partnership

Nottingham Solicitors

01159 419141