WHO Unveils Compensation Program for COVID-19 Vaccine Adverse Events

The World Health Organization (WHO) this week announced a vaccine injury compensation plan for the 92 low- and middle-income countries that are getting COVID-19 vaccines through its COVAX initiative.

The COVAX program aims to distribute coronavirus vaccines to low- and middle-income nations to help vaccinate their populations and ensure more equitable global vaccine distribution.

The new compensation plan offers eligible individuals in these countries “a fast, fair, robust and transparent process to receive compensation for rare but serious adverse events associated with COVAX-distributed vaccines,” giving them “full and final settlement of any claims” without the need to resort to courts of law, the WHO said.

The no-fault compensation program will be up and running online by March 31 and will continue until June 30, 2022.