The COVID-19 Vaccine Claim Scheme will provide access to compensation to those patients who suffer moderate to significant adverse reactions from a Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved COVID-19 vaccine or its administration.
The TGA has granted provisional approvals to Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines and is responsible for monitoring adverse events for suspected side effects of all vaccines approved for use in Australia.
From 6 September 2021, people suffering adverse reactions to or injuries from a TGA approved COVID-19 vaccine can register their interest in claiming compensation for time off work, medical and other expenses.
Professor Julie Leask, a vaccine uptake specialist from the University of Sydney, welcomes the Scheme saying it's an essential part of a comprehensive vaccination program that the public and health professionals can have confidence in.
If a person suffers a very rare but serious reaction to a vaccine, the government has an obligation to look after them.
Professor Leask points out the Scheme will compensate for the proven side effects as per the official Product Information for the individual vaccines recognised by the TGA.
There must be an accepted link between the vaccine and the side effect.
She says some of the recognised side effects include thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome associated with the AstraZeneca vaccine and myocarditis and pericarditis associated with the Pfizer vaccine.
How will the Scheme work?
Those who register their interest to claim under the Scheme will be notified when and how to proceed once the Services Australia claims portal is operational and can accept claims documentation.
The Department of Health states that the final administrative details of the Scheme, including all evidence requirements, will be published later this year, ahead of the Services Australia claims portal opening.
For claims between $5,000 and $20,000, patients will need to provide supporting evidence to demonstrate:
The COVID-19 Vaccine Claims Scheme will compensate those patients who suffer adverse reactions from an approved COVID-19 vaccine or its administration. Source: Getty Images/E+
- the TGA approved vaccine administration occurred
- medical documentation linking the vaccine to the injury or harm
- evidence of hospitalisation
- evidence to detail the loss incurred
Claims for $20,000 and above will be assessed by a panel of independent experts, and compensation will be paid based on their recommendations. However, the evidence requirements for this category are still being developed.
The Scheme will also cover the extremely rare event of a death, and there will be no total cap on the amount payable.
To ensure no person who has been vaccinated is disadvantaged, the Scheme will be backdated to the commencement of the rollout on 22 February 2021 and will extend to two years beyond the COVID-19 emergency period.
Professor Leask says that’s enough time as the rare serious adverse events are known to occur within the first few days to weeks after the vaccine is given.
People will mostly experience adverse side effects after the first dose.
The Scheme will be backdated to the commencement of the rollout on 22 February 2021 and will extend to two years beyond the COVID-19 emergency period. Source: Sipa USA Dinendra Haria / SOPA Images/Sip
Industry welcomes the Scheme
The Australian Medical Association says the Scheme "will ensure that healthcare workers involved in the vaccine rollout are not put through distressing court processes for simply playing their role in administering lifesaving vaccines as part of Australia's pandemic response".
The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry points out that businesses committed to reaching vaccination targets can now help by turning workplaces into vaccinations hubs without concerns about indemnity arrangements.
Sydney University’s Senior Lecturer Nicholas Wood leads the NSW Immunisation Specialist Service and coordinates the Immunisation Adverse Events Clinic at The Children's Hospital at Westmead.
He says the Scheme may positively impact vaccine uptake as it provides assurance the community is looking after its society while boosting confidence in the success of the COVID-19 vaccine program.
In a sense, it’s the community looking after the community.