Extension of Vaccine Injury Financial Assistance Programme for COVID-19 Vaccination under National Vaccination Programme to Delayed Serious Side Effect Cases

Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim asked the Minister for Health whether the Vaccine Injury Financial Assistance Programme for COVID-19 vaccination under the National Vaccination Programme can be extended to cases where the serious side effects only appear after a considerable period of time after vaccination, provided there is clear expert corroboration of the correlation between the serious side effects and the vaccine received.

Serious side effects caused by vaccines are rare. This applies for COVID-19 vaccines or vaccines protecting against other conditions. Most side-effects are mild, appear within the first three days and resolve with no treatment. Rarely, side effects can develop up to six weeks after vaccination.

Applications for the Vaccine Injury Financial Assistance Programme for COVID-19 Vaccination (VIFAP), will be considered thoroughly, taking into account the details of the medical episode that occurred post-vaccination, together with scientific information and evidence.