Vaccine Damage Payments is not a compensation scheme. It is a payment from the Government where you meet their criteria. You can still take legal action with a solicitor for medical negligence, even if you get a Vaccine Damage Payment. The Vaccine Damage Payment may be taken in to account for benefits and any future legal claim you make before the Courts.
You could get a payment if you’re severely disabled and your disability was caused by vaccination against any of the following diseases:
You may have had a combined vaccination against a number of the diseases listed. For example, you might have been vaccinated against DTP (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis) or MMR (measles, mumps and rubella).
You may also be able to get a payment if you’re severely disabled because either:
You can also apply for this payment on behalf of someone who has died after becoming severely disabled because of one of these vaccinations. You need to be managing their estate to apply.
To be eligible for a Vaccine Damage Payment, you normally need to have been vaccinated before your 18th birthday. Other eligible cases are if you were vaccinated during an outbreak of disease against:
The vaccination must have been administered in the UK or the Isle of Man. Other options are if you were vaccinated as part of your arms forces medical treatment.
The application has to demonstrate that they meet the test of 'severe disablement' which is defined as 60% disablement and requires the applicant's treating clinicians to produce evidence in support of the application. The severe disablement must have been caused by a vaccination given in the United Kingdom. This is a high test and one which means only the most extreme cases lead to recovery of compensation.
As above where a vaccination was given to an applicant's mother before they were born which thereby caused them severe disablement, and where individuals acquired the disease from someone who was vaccinated against it can also claim.
If the person has died as a result of their vaccination, provided that they were severely disabled from the vaccination immediately prior to their death then a claim can be made by a representative of their estate.
You can only claim for a child once they are 2 years old.
To claim for an adult, apply by whichever is the latest of the following dates:
The time limit to make an application is the later of six years from the date of vaccination or the date on which the applicant reaches the age of 21.
