President Cyril Ramaphosa participates virtually in the 35th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) taking place from 05-06 February 2022 in Addis Ababa – Photo: GCIS / Flickr
Vaccine injury compensation scheme extended, as State of Disaster ends
President Cyril Ramaphosa says the COVID-19 Vaccine Compensation Fund will be terminated ‘once it has achieved its purpose’
President Cyril Ramaphosa participates virtually in the 35th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) taking place from 05-06 February 2022 in Addis Ababa – Photo: GCIS / Flickr
While the State of Disaster has expired, government will continue with its COVID-19 Vaccine Compensation Fund for now.
President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation on Monday evening, 4 April 2022, to announce the end of the State of Disaster, more than 24 months after it was initially declared during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The COVID-19 Vaccine Injury No-Fault Compensation Scheme was introduced in April 2021, with government setting aside an estimated R250 million. That figure was based on an estimate of between 800 and 2,000 successful claims and included the administrative costs of the fund.
The purpose of the fund is to provide compensation to those who have suffered harm, loss or damages as a result of the COVID-19 vaccine. So no medical facility or health practitioner who administered the vaccine, nor the pharmaceutical companies would be held liable, should anything happen.
The scheme is headed by retired chief justice Sandile Ngcobo and was approved by the national coronavirus command council (NCCC)
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WHEN WILL THE VACCINE COMPENSATION SCHEME END?
It remains unclear as to how long the COVID-19 Vaccine Compensation Fund will remain as President Cyril Ramaphosa said it will be terminated “once it has achieved its purpose.”
“There is one last measure that will outlive the National State of Disaster. This is the COVID-19 Vaccine Injury No-Fault Compensation Scheme. This Scheme was brought into force in April last year to provide quick and easy access to compensation to any person who suffers a serious injury as a result of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.”
“The COVID-19 Vaccine Injury No-Fault Compensation Scheme, which is administered by the Department of Health, will continue after the National State of Disaster ends. The Scheme will only be terminated once it has achieved its purpose.”
President Cyril Ramaphosa
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