Canadian families who have experienced death or injury resulting from COVID vaccines are set to receive a collective compensation of $11 million, as reported by Blacklock’s Reporter. The compensation is part of the federal Vaccine Injury Support Program, designed to process claims involving serious and permanent injuries or fatalities attributed to the vaccine.
Out of 2,233 filed claims, 1,825 have been approved for processing. A medical review board has sanctioned payment for 138 of these claims, amounting to a disbursement of $11,236,314 as of December 31. The Health Department, in a 2021 memo, indicated that a total of $75 million has been allocated for the initial five years of the program.
The specific types of claims that have been compensated were not disclosed. The program aims to provide fair and timely financial support to individuals in Canada who have sustained serious and permanent injuries following the administration of a Health Canada-authorized vaccine on or after December 8, 2020.
The support offered encompasses various components, including income-replacement indemnities, injury indemnities, death benefits, coverage for funeral expenses, and reimbursement of eligible costs such as medical expenses not otherwise covered.
Health Minister Mark Holland emphasized Canada’s leadership in pandemic response during a November address to the House of Commons. He credited the effective handling of the pandemic, saving hundreds of thousands of lives, to the widespread use of vaccines and other measures.
Dr. Supriya Sharma, the senior medical adviser for the Health Department, acknowledged the uncertainty regarding the long-term effects of COVID vaccines. Despite the potential risks, she emphasized that the benefits outweigh them. Continuous monitoring of vaccine safety is maintained to address any rare adverse effects that may arise.
The announcement comes amid ongoing global efforts to balance the benefits of mass vaccination campaigns with the need to address individual cases of adverse events, reinforcing the importance of transparency and accountability in vaccination programs.
