A review is planned for vaccine payouts as claims soar after the pandemic

A payment system to help people left disabled after receiving a vaccine, and the families of those who died, is to be overhauled after a rise in claims due to the pandemic.

Health Minister Victoria Atkins has asked officials in her department to look at how the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS) can be reformed.

It comes amid concerns it is difficult to deal with after a large number of claims from people suffering side effects after the Covid-19 jab.

The number of claims rose to 4,008 last year – compared to 480 in 2022, 26 in 2020 and 27 in 2019, official figures show. Separate data shows that 11,022 claims have been made to the scheme in relation to Covid jabs up to April 26 this year.

It is not a compensation scheme, but is intended to ‘ease the current and future burdens of those who suffer from serious vaccine injury, and their families’. Victims and families are still entitled to compensation.

Funding for the scheme has increased from £600,000 in 2021-2022 to £16.1 million in 2023-2024. The one-off payment of £120,000 has not risen in line with inflation since 2007. Minister Esther McVey is reportedly among those calling for reforms to the scheme.

Last week, drug manufacturer AstraZeneca admitted in court filings that its Covid vaccine can cause a rare side effect. It is facing claims the jab caused death and serious injury in 75 cases.

Charlet Crichton, from the charity UKCVFamily, which supports people suffering side effects from the Covid vaccine, told The Sunday Telegraph: ‘Ministers say you can use the £120,000 payment to fund legal cases – but you can’t, because cases of vaccine damage last a long time. long lasting and expensive.’

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Health said: ‘We have already scaled up and modernized the VDPS to process cases faster, including by digitalising the application process and increasing the number of administrative staff.’