Excluding the effects of the Antigen
Due to the extra-ordinary way in which this vaccine has been approved, there is understandably a considerable amount of concern from insurers about taking responsibility for any side effects of a Covid-19 vaccination.
Consequently, the indemnity that has been arranged for PDA members is designed to sit on top of any State Backed Schemes (where applicable), the UK Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme and the immunity provision protections. These state provisions have been delivered by the government, because there is a widespread recognition that the Vaccine has been approved for use in an extra-ordinary way in extra-ordinary times without the usual much longer-term clinical trials. Because of this, the responsibility for the effects of the antigen will sit elsewhere, nevertheless, the PDA scheme may still need to respond to claims regarding the effects of the antigen from claimants, even if it is only to defend members and point claimants in the direction of the state provisions.
In the view of the PDA, where pharmacists would quite legitimately be held responsible as vaccinators is associated with the activity around the process and the administration of the vaccination itself and this is the risk that would be covered by the PDAs scheme. Separating out these two risks (effects of the antigen and administering the injection) and sharing the risks with the state means that the £250,000 limit per claim for vaccinating provides appropriate and proportional protection and keeps the costs to members low.