What is the Canada Vaccine Injury Support Program?
Back in December 2020, the Canadian Government announced that it was creating the Canada Vaccine Injury Support Program. Officially launched in June 2021, the program offers compensation to anybody who has experienced a serious and permanent injury, a severe adverse reaction, or death related to a Health Canada-authorized vaccine, including the COVID-19 vaccine.
To sum up, vaccines must have been received on or after December 8, 2020, in order to partake in the program. Elsewhere, it’s important to note that financial support will cover all current and future Health Canada-authorized vaccines.
How can I apply for financial support?
Any individual who experiences a serious and permanent injury, a severe adverse reaction, or death, is entitled to pursue compensation under the Canada Vaccine Injury Support Program.
To move forward with a claim, individuals should visit www.vaccineinjurysupport.ca/en/submit-a-claim. Here, they’ll find some simple eligibility questions that they need to answer. These questions include:
- Were you vaccinated in Canada?
- In which province or territory did the vaccination occur?
- Was the date of vaccination on or after December 8, 2020?
- Is the injury serious and permanent or has it resulted in death?
Can dependents apply for financial support under the Canada Vaccine Injury Support Program?
In short, it’s not just seriously injured parties who can pursue financial support under the Canada Vaccine Injury Support Program.
Compensation is available to dependents who have experienced a family member die as a result of receiving a COVID-19 vaccination.
The type of COVID-19 financial support available to dependents includes:
- Income replacement
- Payment for injuries
- Death benefits (e.g. funeral expenses)
- Uncovered medical expenses
How much money can I expect to receive under the program?
Ultimately, the Canada Vaccine Injury Support Program analyzes everything on a case-by-case basis. Therefore, it’s impossible to provide an estimated amount.
Nevertheless, in every case, financial support is retroactive from the date of the serious injury or death.
What is the definition of a qualifying “serious and permanent” injury?
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has defined what the Canada Vaccine Injury Support Program means by a “serious and permanent” vaccine-affected injury.
In short, individuals must have gone through “life-threatening or life-altering injuries that may require in-person hospitalization, and results in persistent or significant disability or incapacity, or where the outcome is a congenital malformation or death.”
In Canada, how common are adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccines?
Firstly, it’s important to note that severe adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccines are a genuinely rare occurrence. Nevertheless, they still occur.
In statistics as of May 21, 2021, The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) calculated that Canada has seen 5,989 reported cases of adverse reactions to a COVID-19 vaccine.
While that figure may seem large, it actually represents just 0.029 percent of the total number of doses. Analyzing these adverse reactions even further, 1.126 of them were considered serious, equating to 0.006 of all doses. In other words, serious adverse reactions are extremely rare.
However, Canada cannot afford to stand still and become complacent.
In late May, there were over 24 cases of vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) reported. With these cases being tied to the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, CTV News reported in June that five people have died of VITT.
Experienced a serious and permanent injury or a family death related to a COVID-19 vaccine?
You do not need a lawyer to apply for the program. However, here at De Rose Lawyers, we understand that severe adverse reactions to Health Canada-authorized vaccines are a genuine occurrence. Accessing the program, establishing the serious and permanent injuries, and obtaining compensation may prove challenging. If you are the victim of an associated serious and permanent injury, or you’re the dependent of a family member who has died after receiving a vaccine, speak to our experienced team of lawyers today.
Possessing over 40 years of combined experience helping clients with traumatic brain injuries, concussions, spinal cord injuries, severe orthopedic injuries, amputation, chronic pain and more, our team is available for any questions or further information.