FOI-03908

##Request You asked us: Please confirm whether the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) has made any payments under the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS) in relation to neurological injuries associated with the AstraZeneca (AZ) COVID-19 vaccine. If such payments have been made, please provide: The number of successful claims relating to neurological injuries linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine. A breakdown or description of the types of neurological injuries recorded (for example, visual impairment, optic neuritis, stroke, Guillain-Barré syndrome, or similar conditions). Any available anonymised data, classifications, or categorisation used to define and record these neurological injuries. Any guidance, criteria, or medical assessment frameworks used by NHSBSA when determining claims involving neurological injury under the VDPS. If any of the requested information is exempt from disclosure, please provide as much information as possible within the limits of the Act and explain any exemptions applied. I would prefer to receive the information in electronic format. The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) received your request on 17 June 2026. We have handled your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA). ##Our response I can confirm that the NHSBSA holds the information you have requested and a copy of the information is attached. Fewer than five Please be aware that I have decided not to release the exact number of awards, where the number is fewer than 5. This is because the claimants could be identified when combined with other information that may be in the public domain or reasonably available. Online communities exist for those adversely affected by vaccines they have received. This further increases the likelihood that those may be identified by disclosure of this information. This information falls under the exemption in section 40 subsections 2 and 3A (a) of the FOIA. This is because it would breach the first data protection principle as: It is not fair to disclose claimant personal details to the world and is likely to cause damage or distress. These details are not of sufficient interest to the public to warrant an intrusion into the privacy of the claimant. Please click the web link below to see the exemption in full: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/36/section/40 Breach of Confidentiality Please note that the identification of individuals is also a breach of the common law duty of confidence. An individual who has been identified could make a claim against the NHSBSA for the disclosure of the confidential information. The information requested is therefore being withheld as it falls under the exemption in section 41(1) ‘Information provided in confidence’ of the FOIA. Please click the below web link to see the exemption in full: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/36/section/41 Question A - The number of successful claims relating to neurological injuries linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine. and Question B - A breakdown or description of the types of neurological injuries recorded (for example, visual impairment, optic neuritis, stroke, Guillain-Barré syndrome, or similar conditions). I can confirm that the NHSBSA holds the requested information. At the medical assessment stage, the medical assessor provides a description of the assessed conditions they have been able to identify from the claimant's medical records. This can sometimes be a mixture of conditions. The condition recorded against each claim may therefore be different to the condition initially stated by the claimant on their original claim form. The total number of awarded (neurological) COVID-19 claims where the AstraZeneca vaccine was administered is 100. Of these: 60 relate to Guillain-Barre syndrome 12 relate to Tranverse Myelitis 12 relate to Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy post Guillain-Barre syndrome I am not able to provide a further breakdown by condition. This is because the small changes in numbers when compared to figures provided previously, in response to similar Freedom of Information requests, could result in claimants being identified. Therefore, as detailed above in accordance with section 40 (2) and section 41 of FOIA, we are unable to provide further detailed breakdown by condition. Question C - Any available anonymised data, classifications, or categorisation used to define and record these neurological injuries. and Question D - Any guidance, criteria, or medical assessment frameworks used by NHSBSA when determining claims involving neurological injury under the VDPS. Under Section 21 of the FOIA, we are not required to provide information in response to a request if it is already reasonably accessible to you. All conditions, including neurological conditions, are assessed according to the Principles of Medical Assessment. Further information is available in the Principles of Medical Assessment which can be accessed on the NHSBSA website: https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/vaccine-damage-payment-scheme-vdps-claim-process Please see the following link to view the section 21 in full: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/36/section/21 ##Data Queries Please contact [email protected] ensuring you quote the above reference if you have any specific questions regarding this response; or, if you feel you may be misunderstanding or misinterpreting the information; or, if you plan on publishing the data. ##Reusing the data and copyright If you plan on producing a press or broadcast story based upon the data please contact [email protected] . This is important to ensure that the figures are not misunderstood or misrepresented. The information supplied to you continues to be protected by the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 and is subject to NHSBSA copyright. This information is licenced under the terms of the Open Government Licence detailed at: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/ Should you wish to re-use the information you must include the following statement: “NHSBSA Copyright 2026” This information is licenced under the terms of the Open Government Licence: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/ Failure to do so is a breach of the terms of the licence. Information you receive which is not subject to NHSBSA Copyright continues to be protected by the copyright of the person, or organisation, from which the information originated. Please obtain their permission before reproducing any third party (non NHSBSA Copyright) information.