Reform Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme
COVID-19 Inquiry · Module 4: Vaccines and Therapeutics · Issued 16 April 2026 · Addressed to: Department of Health and Social Care
Government responseDepartment of Health and Social Care: Accepted in part (Oct 2026)
DeliveryDepartment of Health and Social Care states no delivery position (Jun 2026)
Recommendation, verbatim from the inquiry
●Inquiry 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.
COVID-19 Inquiry, Module 4: Vaccines and Therapeutics · 16 Apr 2026 Source PDF →
Published evidence summary
AI-generated evidence summary
The Inquiry recommended that the UK government reform the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS). In a June 2026 written parliamentary answer, Sharon Hodgson MP, answering for the Department of Health and Social Care, stated that the Government was actively considering the recommendations of the inquiry on reform of the scheme (Sharon Hodgson response, Jun 2026; Sharon Hodgson, Jun 2026). Referring to a Written Ministerial Statement from April 2026, the Minister added that the Government was carefully considering the findings and would respond within six months of publication (Sharon Hodgson, Jun 2026). The record holds nothing dated later than the response of June 2026 (Sharon Hodgson response, Jun 2026).
AI-generated summary of the record on this page, checked by a second model and automatic checks, 5 Oct 2026.
Government response
●Department of Health and Social Care · Accepted in part · 16 Oct 2026
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.
Extract from: UK government response to the Covid-19 Inquiry Module 4 report
Earlier statement from Department of Health and Social Care (1)
●Department of Health and Social Care · Under consideration · 9 Jun 2026
The Government is actively considering the recommendations of the inquiry on reform of the VDPS.
Response document: Written question 6320: Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme
Delivery
●Department of Health and Social Care states no delivery position · 9 Jun 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.
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