Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to ensure that applications to the Vaccine Damage Payments Scheme (a) by or on behalf of people who have suffered bereavement from vaccine damage are prioritised for urgent resolution and (b) from people who have suffered the most serious disablement are the next priority; and his planned timetable is for the first awards to be made.

The NHS Business Services Authority will pass claims for medical assessment once a claimant’s supporting medical records have been received. The NHS Business Service Authority has requested that the relevant authorities provide medical records for all Vaccine Damage Payments Scheme (VDPS) claimants. The VDPS’ capacity to process these medical assessments has been increased in order to expedite claims. On receipt of medical records, all claims will be processed regardless of individual circumstances to ensure consistency and fairness, without disadvantaging claimants.