Starting Today, Medical Expenses Support for Critically Ill Patients with 'Insufficient Vaccine Causality'... 6 Cases So Far

Support Fund Up to 10 Million Won Per Person

The Seoul National University Hospital's in-house COVID-19 vaccination took place on the morning of the 4th at Seoul National University Hospital in Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul. A nurse is filling a syringe with the AstraZeneca vaccine. 2021.03.04

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] From the 17th, medical expenses will be supported for severe patients who experienced serious adverse reactions after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine but were excluded from compensation due to insufficient evidence of causality.

According to the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team, a program providing medical expense support started today for cases where patients were admitted to the intensive care unit or developed equivalent illnesses after vaccination, but the Damage Investigation Team or the Damage Compensation Expert Committee did not recognize causality due to 'insufficient evidence.'

The support amount is up to 10 million KRW per person. It will also be applied retroactively to previous vaccine recipients. However, cases where causality is difficult to recognize and it is clear that the cause is other than the vaccine or there is no causality at all are not eligible for support.

Additionally, treatment costs for pre-existing conditions, caregiving expenses, and funeral expenses are excluded. If vaccine recipients or their guardians apply at the local health center in their jurisdiction, the local government will conduct a basic investigation, and the Damage Compensation Expert Committee will determine eligibility based on causality and severity.

According to the Promotion Team, as of this morning, including retroactive applications, six people have been confirmed as eligible for medical expense support.