Thousands of Australians, who suffered adverse reactions to a COVID-19 vaccine, have registered to benefit from a government compensation scheme. Patients who qualify for compensation can apply for $5000 (£2,700) to $20,000 (£10,000) to cover medical expenses and loss of income brought on by being hospitalized after getting a vaccine shot.
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Moderate to Severe Reactions
Australia has so far administered almost 37 million vaccine doses across the country. According to infectious diseases expert Dr Paul Griffin, out of that number, 0.21 per cent of the people have reported adverse side effects, with an even smaller fraction being severe.
Clare Eves, a medical compensation expert from Shine Lawyers, explains that the claims would be limited to moderate to severe reactions.
With most vaccines, you'll end up having a bit of discomfort or feeling generally unwell. But what the scheme is really limited to is those people who have had a significant outcome where it's really impacted on your ability to do things day to day, you've taken some time off and it's been serious enough that you have been hospitalized.
Eligibility
In order to qualify for the claim, a patient would have had to spend at least one night in the hospital. They would also be required to provide medical evidence of the injury and its link to a COVID-19 vaccine. Eligible patients also need to show medical expenses and proof of lost income. Dr Griffin said:
We do see a lot of mild reactions, but they're mild and short lived. The serious ones occur at a very infrequent rate.
One of such serious cases is that of Harold Molle, a resident of Macquarie who developed a blood clot in his leg three days after his second dose of Astra Zeneca, causing him to lose his leg.
It was excruciating pain. It's going to cost me now, I've got to get an artificial leg and a wheelchair.
Despite the extreme and rare reaction to the vaccine, Mr Molle is glad he took it.
The vaccine worked because it saved me in hospital because I caught COVID there, and if I didn't have the vaccine they said I would have most probably got real sick
Expressions of interest are currently open through the Australian Department of Health website.
