20 million doses of vaccine against COVID-19 and a Quebecer compensated

by time news

After the administration of nearly 20 million doses, only one person was compensated by Quebec because of significant side effects suffered after his vaccination against COVID-19.

• Read also: Coronavirus infections added to compensation program for vaccinees

So far, 160 requests have been sent to the Quebec compensation program for victims of vaccination. Of this number, 86 are still awaiting a decision, according to data obtained by Le Journal.

Other files can still be forwarded, since the victims have up to three years to file a claim for compensation.

“Although there were side effects as with any vaccine, serious side effects were extremely rare given the quantity of vaccine doses distributed”, observes virologist Benoît Barbeau.

Very long to process

The processing time is also very long in some cases.

The file for Donald Poirier, who suffered encephalitis a few days after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine, is still pending 15 months later.

If the link between the vaccine and this inflammation of the brain is impossible to prove beyond any doubt, the tests carried out in order to conclude to another cause were not decisive in his case.

“If they ever tell us that we don’t have any compensation, I’m going to jump 10 feet high!” I hope they will be a little understanding, because it changed our lives for several months,” says his wife, Sylvie Bergeron.

The relatives of Francine Boyer, who died in April 2021 of cerebral thrombosis after receiving a dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, are also still awaiting a decision.

They preferred not to comment on the situation so as not to harm their efforts.

According to data from the Institut national de santé publique du Québec, 1049 serious unusual clinical manifestations have been reported in connection with COVID vaccines. These led to hospitalization, risk to life, sequelae or death.

More than 85% of Quebecers have received at least one dose of the COVID vaccine. In total, nearly 20 million doses were administered with the boosters offered.

The identity and the amount of the compensation offered to the only person compensated were not disclosed by the MSSS.

The sums are calculated by the Société d’assurance automobile du Québec according to the same criteria as those offered for road accidents.

The Vaccination Injury Compensation Program was launched by Quebec in 1985 in response to a Supreme Court decision regarding the death of a young girl after being vaccinated against measles.

Since then, 53 requests have been accepted, for a total amount of $6.8 million.

Ottawa’s 2021 Vaccination Injury Support Program, which serves the rest of Canada, has compensated eight people in connection with the COVID-19 vaccine.

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