A recent report reveals that the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) in New Zealand has paid out over $9.6 million to 1,664 individuals who were injured by the COVID-19 vaccine. These injuries include various reactions such as allergic reactions, sprains, cardiac injury, contusion, adverse drug reactions, anaphylactic reactions, infections, shoulder damage, cellulitis, bursitis, inflammation, and nerve damage.
The data covers the period from February 18, 2021, when vaccinations began in New Zealand, to April 6, 2024. Out of the 4,156 claims filed with the ACC, 1,664 were accepted, 2,440 were declined, and 52 remain undecided. As of April 9, 2024, 504 accepted claims resulted in payments exceeding $500, while 253 accepted claims had not received payments by the same date.
The payment breakdowns show that claimants received varying amounts, with 182 receiving between $1,000 to $5,000, 140 receiving between $500 to $1,000, over 500 receiving between $100 to $500, and 57 receiving between $5,000 to $10,000. Notably, there were 178 accepted claims related to cardiac injuries.
Although the specific vaccine administered was not always identified in the claims, the majority of injuries were linked to the Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty vaccine due to its prevalent use in the national vaccination program. The data was compiled through a text search of claim forms that mentioned vaccine names or terms related to COVID-19 or vaccination.
Five claims related to fatal injuries were disclosed by the ACC; however, details about these cases were not provided. Margie Apa, Chief Executive of Te Whatu Ora, reassured the public in December that vaccines remain safe and effective. However, it seems that the Ministry of Health website has removed the words “safe and effective,” raising concerns.
In Canada, the federal government has allocated $36.4 million to a program designed to support individuals who have been seriously injured or killed by Health Canada-approved vaccines since the end of 2020. This program provides financial compensation to those adversely affected by COVID-19 shots.
Overall, the report highlights the financial compensation provided to individuals in New Zealand who experienced adverse effects from the COVID-19 vaccine. It underscores the importance of monitoring vaccine safety and ensuring that accurate information is disseminated to the public.
