UK to cover COVID-19 vaccine side-effects under damages scheme as a 'precautionary step'

UK government will compensate individuals who suffer any severe side-effects from COVID-19 vaccines under an existing programme, government said on December 3. In a statement, British authorities said that COVID-19 would be ded as a "precautionary step" to list of diseases covered for potential liabilities under Vaccine Dam Payments Scheme (VDPS). anuncement comes as Boris Johnson government gave emergency authorization to Pfizer-BioNTch vaccine with an aim to start iculation as early as next week.  

According to British Health officials, vaccines would be deployed only after stringent checks. However, if anything goes wrong, all affected individuals are entitled to a sum capped at 120,000 pounds ($161,676) if y can prove to have been seriously disabled as a result of a vaccination. As per health officials, scheme was meant to dissue people from seeking compensation through lengthy and costly court proceedings, However, experts have slammed scheme for its restrictive conditions.

"ding diseases to  VDPS is t new and numerous diseases have been ded as successive governments have rolled out more immunisation programmes, such as HPV and Meningitis B," government said in a statement. 

Re: 'We Are Hard At It': Cana Plans To Start COVID-19 Vaccine Delivery By January

Re: PM Modi Anunces 'Covin' Software For Covid Vaccine Information & Tracking In India

Priority list

British officials have unveiled ir priority list for first phase of its distribution. According to a press release, care home residents and ir carers would be a topmost priority to receive vaccine shots followed by elderly and frontline workers. Two groups, which would t receive Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine would include children below of 16 and pregnant women, owing to health risks.

Re: US Expert Fauci Apologises For Doubting UK's Vaccine Approval, Cites 'misunderstanding'

According to Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, vaccine won’t be “generally available for children.” Clarifying reason for exception, committee explained that most children have mild and asymptomatic disease. “However it will be available for "those children at very high risk of exposure and serious outcomes, such as older children with severe neuro-disabilities that require residential care,” committee explained.

Re: As UK Approves Pfizer-BioNtech's COVID-19 Vaccine, Here's Who Will Get Vaccinated First