Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to his oral contribution of 6 December 2021, Official Report, column 70, when the review of the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme began; when that review is planned to conclude; and what assessment he has made of the role of that scheme in promoting confidence in vaccines.

The NHS Business Services Authority began operating the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS) from 1 November 2021. The NHS Business Services Authority have since focussed on the safe transfer of the scheme and recruiting and training additional staff to undertake the administration of VDPS claims. It will review the Scheme’s processes to improve claimants’ experiences through increasing personalised engagement, reducing response times and providing general support. The NHS Business Services Authority will also work with the Department on service improvements and further digitalisation, including an online claim form to increase accessibility. This will allow the modernisation of the VDPS and continue to promote confidence in vaccines.