Death after vaccination? Japan offers 500 million won without questions or investigation

No Investigation of Medical Institution Negligence
Annual 53 Million Won for Grade 1 Disability

On the 17th, when Japan began COVID-19 vaccinations, a healthcare worker (left) in Tokyo received the vaccine. The Japanese government started vaccinating approximately 40,000 healthcare professionals designated as the priority group. They receive two doses of the vaccine developed by the American pharmaceutical company Pfizer, administered three weeks apart.

In Japan, if a person dies after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, the bereaved family will receive compensation close to 500 million won, including funeral expenses.

According to Kyodo News, Norihisa Tamura, Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare, announced at the House of Representatives Budget Committee on the 19th that if a COVID-19 vaccine recipient dies due to side effects or other reasons, the government will pay a lump sum of 44.2 million yen (approximately 463.2 million won) under the health damage relief system.

The lump-sum compensation upon death is paid regardless of whether there was any medical institution's negligence.

In addition to the compensation, the bereaved family will separately receive 209,000 yen (approximately 2.2 million won) for funeral expenses.

If a person suffers a first-degree disability requiring care in daily life due to aftereffects of the vaccine, they will receive an annual disability pension of 5,056,800 yen (approximately 53 million won).

Earlier, Japan revised the Vaccination Act in December last year.

The new Vaccination Act designates the COVID-19 vaccine as a "temporary vaccination" vaccine and requires the government to cover all vaccination costs, while imposing an obligation on citizens to make efforts to receive the vaccination.

Furthermore, anticipating the possibility of unexpected side effects due to large-scale vaccinations, provisions were included to provide medical expenses and disability pensions to those who suffer damage after vaccination.

In Japan, priority COVID-19 vaccinations for medical workers began on the 17th. The Japanese government expects it will take about one year to complete vaccination of all citizens aged 16 and over, depending on vaccine supply conditions.