LONDON (Reuters) – The World Health Organization has agreed a
no-fault compensation plan for claims of serious side effects in
people in 92 poorer countries due to get COVID-19 vaccines via the
COVAX sharing scheme, resolving a big concern among recipient
governments.
![image](/2020/10/lawreport.jpg")
The programme, which the WHO said was the first and only vaccine
injury compensation mechanism operating on an international scale,
will offer eligible people “a fast, fair, robust and transparent
process”, the WHO said in a statement.
![image](/2021/01/payne-alex.jpg")
“By providing a no-fault lump-sum compensation in full and final
settlement of any claims, the COVAX programme aims to significantly
reduce the need for recourse to the law courts, a potentially
lengthy and costly process,” the statement said.
Questions of how compensation claims would be handled in the
event of any serious COVID-19 vaccine side effects, which are
likely to be very rare, had been a worry for countries due to get
COVID-19 shots via the COVAX plan.
Countries funding their own COVID-19 vaccine procurement also
plan their own liability programmes.
The WHO-agreed plan, which has been under discussion for several
months, is designed to cover serious side effects linked to any
COVAX-distributed vaccines until June 30, 2022, to COVAX’s Advance
Market Commitment-eligible economies – a group of 92 poorer states
which includes most African and Southeast Asian countries.
The programme will be financed initially from donor funding to
the AMC as an extra charge on all doses of COVID-19 vaccines
distributed through COVAX. Applications can be made via a portal at
www.covaxclaims.com from March 31, 2021, the WHO said.
Seth Berkley, chief executive of the GAVI vaccine alliance which
co-leads COVAX, said the agreement on the compensation fund was “a
massive boost” for COVAX, which aims to secure equitable global
access to COVID-19 vaccines.
“It helps those in countries who might have such effects,
manufacturers to roll out vaccines to countries faster, and is a
key benefit for lower-income governments procuring vaccines through
(COVAX),” Berkley said.
The WHO said it was also working with the insurance firm Chubb
to secure insurance coverage for the programme.
LONDON (Reuters) – The World Health Organization has agreed a
no-fault compensation plan for claims of serious side effects in
people in 92 poorer countries due to get COVID-19 vaccines via the
COVAX sharing scheme, resolving a big concern among recipient
governments.
The programme, which the WHO said was the first and only vaccine
injury compensation mechanism operating on an international scale,
will offer eligible people “a fast, fair, robust and transparent
process”, the WHO said in a statement.
“By providing a no-fault lump-sum compensation in full and final
settlement of any claims, the COVAX programme aims to significantly
reduce the need for recourse to the law courts, a potentially
lengthy and costly process,” the statement said.
Questions of how compensation claims would be handled in the
event of any serious COVID-19 vaccine side effects, which are
likely to be very rare, had been a worry for countries due to get
COVID-19 shots via the COVAX plan.
Countries funding their own COVID-19 vaccine procurement also
plan their own liability programmes.
The WHO-agreed plan, which has been under discussion for several
months, is designed to cover serious side effects linked to any
COVAX-distributed vaccines until June 30, 2022, to COVAX’s Advance
Market Commitment-eligible economies – a group of 92 poorer states
which includes most African and Southeast Asian countries.
The programme will be financed initially from donor funding to
the AMC as an extra charge on all doses of COVID-19 vaccines
distributed through COVAX. Applications can be made via a portal at
www.covaxclaims.com from March 31, 2021, the WHO said.
Seth Berkley, chief executive of the GAVI vaccine alliance which
co-leads COVAX, said the agreement on the compensation fund was “a
massive boost” for COVAX, which aims to secure equitable global
access to COVID-19 vaccines.
“It helps those in countries who might have such effects,
manufacturers to roll out vaccines to countries faster, and is a
key benefit for lower-income governments procuring vaccines through
(COVAX),” Berkley said.
The WHO said it was also working with the insurance firm Chubb
to secure insurance coverage for the programme.