Covid Vaccine Trial Participant Denied Compensation Due to Disability Threshold
A UK woman who developed a severe neurological condition after participating in the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine trial was denied compensation because her disability did not meet the 60% threshold.
Marie-Claire Hoyle, a 44-year-old NHS nurse, volunteered for the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine trial in 2020. Two weeks after receiving her second dose, she developed transverse myelitis, a debilitating neurological condition causing inflammation of the spine.
Her condition left her unable to use her hands and with numbness from her collarbone to her thighs due to damaged spinal cord signals. An MRI scan confirmed her spinal cord remains damaged and unlikely to heal. She continues to experience numbness and nerve pain.
Hoyle's case was among those considered during a worldwide shutdown of the trial for experts to investigate the situation. Despite the severity of her symptoms, when she applied for compensation through the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS), she was refused.
The VDPS requires claimants to demonstrate a disability level of at least 60% to receive a one-off payment of £120,000. Hoyle stated that when her condition was at its worst, she would have qualified, but by the time she applied, her condition had improved to the point where she no longer met the threshold.
This situation has led Hoyle to call for reforms to the state compensation system for vaccine injuries. Baroness Hallett's Covid-19 Inquiry has also highlighted the need for reform, with proposals to lower the payment threshold to assist more individuals with less severe injuries.
While the VDPS denied her compensation, Hoyle separately applied to Oxford University for damages and received a five-figure sum after the case was settled out of court. She remains a proponent of vaccination, emphasizing their importance in protecting public health.
The NHS Business Services Authority, responsible for the VDPS, stated that individuals whose claims are refused can challenge the decision and have their cases reassessed. An AstraZeneca spokesperson expressed sympathy for those affected by health problems and reiterated that patient safety is their highest priority.