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Deloshni Niadoo, an occupational therapist, receives a vaccination.
Gallo Images / Darren Stewart
- WHO has presented a compensation plan for the side effects of vaccines provided through the Covex plan.
- A lump sum may be paid for claims.
- Several countries are part of the Covax plan, including South Africa.
The World Health Organization has agreed to a no-fault compensation plan for claims of serious side effects in people from 92 poorer countries due to Covid-19 vaccination through the Covax exchange scheme, resolving a major concern among governments. receivers.
The program, which according to the WHO was the first and only compensation mechanism for vaccine injuries that operates internationally, will offer eligible people “a fast, fair, robust and transparent process,” the WHO said in a statement.
“By providing global no-fault compensation in the full and final settlement of any claim, the Covax program aims to significantly reduce the need to go to court, a potentially lengthy and costly process,” the statement said.
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Questions about how compensation claims would be handled in the event of serious side effects from the Covid-19 vaccine, which are likely to be very rare, had been a concern for countries that were required to receive Covid-19 injections through the Covax plan.
Countries that finance their own procurement of the Covid-19 vaccine also plan their own accountability programs.
The WHO-agreed plan, which has been debated for several months, is designed to cover serious side effects related to any vaccine distributed by Covax through June 30, 2022, in economies eligible for Covax’s Advanced Market Engagement. , a group of 92 poorer states that includes most African and Southeast Asian countries.
The program will be initially funded by donor funds to the AMC as an additional charge on all doses of Covid-19 vaccines distributed through Covax. Applications can be made through a portal at www.covaxclaims.com starting March 31, 2021, the WHO said.
Seth Berkley, executive director of the GAVI vaccine alliance that Covax co-leads, said the settlement on the compensation fund was “a massive boost” for Covax, which aims to ensure equitable global access to Covid-19 vaccines.
“It helps manufacturers in countries that could have such an effect to distribute vaccines in countries more quickly, and it is a key benefit for low-income governments that purchase vaccines through (Covax),” Berkley said.
The WHO said it was also working with insurance firm Chubb to secure insurance coverage for the program.
