Thousands still waiting for Covid jab payout as over £5million paid in damages so far

People harmed by the Covid vaccine have been paid out more than £5million in damages.

Almost 4,000 claims relating to the jab were made under the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme which provides a one-off £120,000 payment.

The NHS said 44 claims had been successful so far but 2,947 are still awaiting a verdict.

Alexandra Kelly got £120,000 after her mum Anthea, 71, died with pneumonitis, an inflammation of the lung following her AstraZeneca jab in January 2021.

But Alexandra, 49, branded the damages scheme a “shambles”, with hundreds of other claims rejected or in limbo.

Claire Hibbs was refused a payout 18 months after claiming. She was hospitalised for nearly a month with blood clotting following an AstraZeneca jab.

The NHS said 44 claims had been successful so far (AFP via Getty Images)

The mum of two said she had to quit her operations job at EasyJet.

Claire, 49, said she was not paid out because she was not deemed to have reached a criteria of being 60% disabled due to the vaccine.

NHS Business Services Authority, which runs the scheme, said it was increasing its resources to process claims quicker.