Australia’s COVID vaccine compensation scheme, designed to provide financial support for those who suffer serious adverse reactions to the Covid vaccine, has been criticised for several key shortcomings. Firstly, the scheme’s eligibility criteria are too stringent. Many individuals with legitimate vaccine-related health issues, injuries and loved ones who have died, find their claims rejected because they don’t meet the high threshold of proof required. This leaves a significant number of affected individuals without the financial support they need to cover medical expenses, lost wages and suffering.
A constituent recently wrote to me, detailing their struggle with the scheme. After day 455 of seeking compensation with Services Australia, they reported receiving no further updates or timelines, leaving them to cope not only with their health issues but also with the additional harm inflicted by the prolonged claims process.
Additionally, the process of filing a claim under the scheme is cumbersome and complex. The paperwork is extensive and often requires detailed medical documentation that can be difficult for claimants to obtain. This bureaucratic hurdle discourages many from even attempting to seek compensation. Furthermore, the time taken to process claims is lengthy, leaving those who are suffering from vaccine-related health issues without timely financial assistance. This delay exacerbates the financial and emotional strain on individuals and their families.
The data underscores these issues. As of 31 March, the scheme had received 4,282 claims, with 3,522 finalised and 760 still in progress. Of the claims finalised, only 324 have resulted in payouts. This means that out of the 3,522 finalised claims, a mere 324 individuals received compensation, highlighting the scheme’s inefficacy in providing the necessary support to those affected.
The experience of Kara Potter exemplifies the system’s failures. Mrs Potter suffered severe adverse reactions following her third Pfizer shot, which began with pericarditis and led to widespread inflammation affecting her lungs, brain, and other parts of her body. Despite multiple hospital visits and a significant deterioration in her health, resulting in chronic illness and disability, Mrs Potter has not received compensation from the federal government. Her case highlights the difficulty in obtaining adequate medical support and the challenge of having her vaccine injury recognised and validated by medical professionals. She has experienced gaslighting from some medical practitioners, who doubted her condition and attributed it to psychological issues despite clear evidence to the contrary.
The execution of the Covid Vaccine Compensation Scheme is an utter failure, leaving many in a state of limbo, struggling to manage the consequences of adverse vaccine reactions without adequate support.
The government’s failure to compensate those suffering from vaccine-related injuries is a stark reminder that they are not fulfilling their fundamental duty to look after their people.
