Question Period Note: VACCINE INJURY SUPPORT PROGRAM

The Government of Canada has established a pan-Canadian no-fault Vaccine Injury Support Program (VISP). The program ensures that all people in Canada who have experienced a serious and permanent injury as a result of receiving a Health Canada authorized vaccine, administered in Canada, on or after December 8, 2020, have access to fair and timely financial support. The new VISP brings Canada in line with a growing number of countries that have such programs in place, including all G7 counterparts.

Key Messages
• The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring that Canadians who support public health by being vaccinated are supported should they experience a serious and permanent injury as a result of vaccination. Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself, your family and your community from getting and spreading serious diseases. All immunization programs are based on the principle of reciprocity.
• The pan-Canadian no-fault Vaccine Injury Support Program (VISP) was launched on June 1, 2021, and is being administered independently by RCGT Consulting. The programensures people in Canada who experience a serious and permanent injury after receiving a Health Canada authorized vaccine, administered in Canada on or after December 8, 2020, have access to fair and timely financial support.
• The province of Quebec will continue to independently administer its existing provincial program for people vaccinated in Quebec. Individuals vaccinated in all other provinces and territories are eligible under the pan-Canadian program.
If pressed on timelines to process a claim
• As the independent third party administrator of the VISP, RCGT Consulting oversees all aspects of claims intake and assessment.
• Timelines for a determination of eligibility and support will depend on the nature and complexity of the claim. To receive compensation through the VISP, a causal relationship between the injury and the vaccination must be objectively determined.
• The causality assessment process requires the third party administrator to retrieve all relevant medical records from the province or territory or from the medical institution where the patient received care. This process can take several months and be subject to delays that are outside of the third party administrator’s control.
• Payments for those who have a serious and permanent injury from a vaccine will be retroactive to the date of the injury.
If pressed on number of claims received

• As the independent third party administrator of the VISP, RCGT Consulting is responsible for periodic public reporting on program statistics, which will begin before the end of the year 2021.
If pressed on timing of program launch
• The need for a vaccine injury support program was identified as a gap in Canada’s immunization system and recognized as an area of importance by the Government of Canada, the provinces and territories.
• The pandemic underscored the need to remedy this gap, especially as Canada was preparing to launch the national COVID-19 vaccination campaign.
• The new program brings Canada in line with a growing number of countries that have such programs in place, including all G7 counterparts.
If pressed on the type of support available
• Eligible individuals may receive income replacement indemnities; injury indemnities; death benefits; coverage for funeral expenses; and reimbursement of eligible costs, such as otherwise uncovered medical expenses.
• Individuals who have experienced serious and permanent injury are eligible for support under this program, consistent with Quebec’s vaccine injury compensation program.

On December 10, 2020, the Prime Minister announced the creation of a pan-Canadian no-fault Vaccine Injury Support Program (VISP). The program launched on June 1, 2021, and provides financial support to people in Canada in the rare event that they experience a serious and permanent injury as a result of receiving a Health Canada authorized vaccine, administered in Canada on or after December 8, 2020. The program will also provide death benefits and support for funeral expenses in the rare case of a death as a result of having received a Health Canada authorized vaccine.

Provinces and territories were given the option to create their own vaccine injury support programs with federal funding. All, except Quebec, chose to participate in the national program. Quebec will receive federal funding to continue the delivery of its existing program. In order to ensure equity across the country, the parameters of the pan-Canadian VISP have been modelled on Quebec’s successful regime, to the extent possible..

An open solicitation process took place in February 2021 to identify a third party administrator for the VISP. PHAC received four proposals. A six-member Review Committee comprised of expertise from inside and outside government in the areas of privacy, compensation programs, procurement, and medical expertise was established to review these proposals. After a comprehensive review, RCGT Consulting Inc. was selected and is administering the VISP independently from PHAC.

A total of $75 million in funding has been earmarked for the first five years of the program. Of the $75 million, $32.3 million over five years has been allocated to RCGT. This includes administration costs and financial supports to eligible claimants and to the Government of Quebec to pursue the execution of its provincial program. The overall cost of the program is dependent on the volume of claims and compensation awarded over time.

Key Facts
• A total of $75 million in funding has been earmarked for the first five years of the program. Of the $75 million, $32.3 million over five years has been allocated to RCGT Consulting.
• This includes administration costs and financial supports to eligible claimants and to the Government of Quebec to pursue the execution of its provincial program.
• The overall cost of the program will be dependent on the volume of claims and compensation awarded over time.