A GROUP of Islanders is challenging the government to compensate those who have experienced adverse reactions after receiving Covid vaccinations.
A letter from Advocate Philip Sinel – backed by a number of ‘sick and bereaved [Islanders]’ – has been sent to Chief Minister Kristina Moore and States Members.
It urges the government to ‘make good’ on previous Health Minister Richard Renouf’s ‘promise’ to develop a vaccine damage scheme – or the group will seek to sue.
Deputy Moore is currently on leave and will respond formally to the open letter next week.
The group’s message comes after the JEP reported earlier this year that 12 deaths in the Channel Islands were logged on a ‘self-reporting’ scheme which records possible reactions to vaccines.
The fatalities, as well as 839 adverse reactions, had been registered on the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority’s Yellow Card scheme, which allows people to submit details of suspected side effects and reactions to a range of medical products.
Director of public health Professor Peter Bradley has previously reassured Islanders that the Yellow Card scheme only records ‘possible’ reactions and explained that there had been no confirmed deaths from Covid jabs in the Channel Islands.
In a statement provided in Deputy Moore’s absence, Health Minister Karen Wilson said: ‘It’s really important that Islanders who contact us about harm they may have suffered as a result of Covid-19 vaccinations know that we treat these matters with great importance.
‘We have been working hard to establish how anyone who may have suffered harm caused by the vaccine can obtain dedicated support.’
Deputy Wilson said that ‘as with all vaccines’, Islanders were asked to provide their consent beforehand.
She added: ‘We are continuing to hold positive discussions with the UK government to enable Islanders to access the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme, which will allow Islanders who have had illness or injury which may have been caused by an MHRA-approved Covid-19 vaccine to have their damages assessed.’
The UK’s Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme enables those harmed by listed vaccines to access a one-off tax-free payment of up to £120,000. Jersey is not currently covered by the UK’s scheme.
As well as a payment policy, Advocate Sinel’s letter asks the government to put into place ‘treatment by medical people who recognise that there is a problem and are dedicated to finding out what they can do to assist it’, as well as ‘compensation and assistance in the shape of housing and related’, and ‘financial assistance’.
It refers to a ‘promise’ made in December 2020 by then Health Minister Richard Renouf that claims for vaccine-related damage ‘would be dealt with, and damages assessed, in the same way as any other personal injury claim where the payment is not fixed but is assessed by relevance to the nature of the injury and the consequences for the individual’.
The letter states: ‘That people have died and have been seriously injured by the Covid “vaccines” is a fact.
‘It cannot be denied as a fact; there is too much evidence, much of it now coming from government sources, and/or the blindingly obvious.
‘No government should seek to deny it, or to place impediments in the way of those who will be seeking recompense and who now need assistance.’
The letter continues: ‘Some Islanders have suffered catastrophic injuries as a direct result. The government needs to assist those harmed.
‘Recompense does not put people in a good position if they have lost a relative, or if they have been seriously injured; all it does is make their life going forward a little easier.’
Professor Bradley said: ‘We have seen nearly six billion people worldwide vaccinated against Covid-19, which has helped governments manage and maintain the virus.
‘We have always warned of side effects associated with vaccines, the majority of which subside within a few days after administration.
‘Very rarely, people may experience more serious side effects and we would advise they contact their GP if they do experience this.
‘I would like to reassure Islanders that the vaccines in use are safe and effective and that getting vaccinated remains the best way to protect yourselves and others against Covid-19.’
