The Compensation Scheme for Covid-19 vaccine injuries has been gazetted

The scheme is an essential part of the Covid-19 vaccination rollout.

The purpose of the scheme is to “provide access to compensation for persons who suffer harm, loss or damage as a result of vaccine injury caused by the administration of a Covid-19 vaccine.”

According to the gazetted amendment, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize, in consultation with the Finance Minister Tito Mboweni, “must designate the account for the Fund and the institution that is responsible for the financial management of the Fund”.

The Department of Health will be responsible for the administration of the scheme.

An adjudication panel with suitably qualified medical and any other relevant expertise must be appointed to deal with the adjudication of claims.

The draft regulations also called for the appointment of a Governance and Oversight Committee.

This committee will be led by a retired Judge and will be responsible for overseeing policies and advising the Health Minister.

The fund will cover a person who has suffered a vaccine injury caused by the administration of a Covid-19 vaccine that is:

Registered or otherwise approved by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority;

Procured and distributed by the national government;

Administered at a facility within the republic.

A panel will also decide on injuries that are seen to be causally related to the use of a Covid-19 vaccine.

Mkhize will be responsible for issuing a separate directive that spells out:

The persons eligible to make claims under the Scheme;

The vaccine injuries covered;

The specific vaccines to be covered;

Facilities where Covid-19 vaccinations are officially administered;

The timeline and duration of injury and the period of vaccinations that the Scheme will cover.

The publication comes as South Africa waits to hear when the vaccination roll out will continue, after the suspension of the Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

Mkhize gave the assurance this week that the last of the consultations are underway about the safety of the jabs.

A million J & J vaccines are expected to arrive in South Africa by Monday.

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