Canada’s beleaguered Vaccine Injury Support Program (VISP) — run by a private company with government money — has ended and, on April 1, the Public Health Agency of Canada launched its replacement, the Vaccine Impact Assistance Program (VIAP).
It follows a year-long Global News investigation into the program meant to support the rare instances of people suffering a serious, permanent injury from government-mandated COVID-19 vaccines.
The investigation found that of the $54 million the private firm Oxaro was given to operate the program, $36 million was spent on administration, while just over $21 million supported 252 vaccine-injured people since 2021, when the program began.
Those getting help from VISP will be transferred to VIAP, as will several hundred more who were caught up in red tape trying to access support, some of them for years.
“Applicants aren’t required to prove that anyone was negligent or responsible in order to be considered for financial support,” reads the VIAP website. “Medical experts review applications to determine whether a vaccine likely caused an injury. Eligibility for financial supports is based on the severity of the injury and its long-term impact on daily life.”
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Public health officials told media on Tuesday they aim to better serve claimants frustrated by the VISP process, including complaints of incorrect and long-delayed payments and a lack of communication from program co-ordinators.
A new call centre will ensure applicants and claimants can reach program administrators. VIAP will also accept applications from 225 people who were previously denied support for missing a three-year deadline. In many of those cases, bogged-down health-care systems delayed diagnosis of the injuries and in others, the severity of the injury grew over time.
The rebranded support program also aims to bolster public trust as vaccine hesitancy grows.
Polling firm Léger reported in December a shift in vaccine confidence in Canada.
“Canadians are confident in vaccines, but trust has declined over the last five years,” says the report.
The polling found 74 per cent of Canadians were somewhat or very confident in vaccines. Fifty-eight percent said their confidence was unchanged, while more Canadians reported a decline (26 per cent) than an increase (14 per cent) since 2019.
More than 30 countries have vaccine injury programs to provide timely financial assistance to people who experience serious and permanent injuries from vaccinations.