178 Additional Cases of COVID-19 Vaccine Adverse Reactions Recognized... "11.8% of New Cases"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Byun Seon-jin] The government has recognized 178 additional cases of compensation for adverse reactions following COVID-19 vaccination.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on the 17th, the 23rd Compensation Committee of the Vaccination Injury Compensation Expert Committee reviewed 1,511 new cases of adverse reaction compensation claims related to COVID-19 vaccination and approved compensation for 178 cases (11.8%) by acknowledging causality.

However, cases such as generalized weakness occurring three weeks after vaccination and dizziness that appeared 13 days after vaccination and lasted for two months were dismissed. This was because the temporal plausibility with the typical onset period of general adverse reactions (within 3 days after vaccination) and duration (within 7 days after vaccination) was considered low. Cases involving malignant hypertension, fall fractures, and other underlying diseases or complications unrelated to the vaccine, as well as cases caused by infections such as bronchitis and acute gastroenteritis, were also not accepted.

As of now, the cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccination injury compensation claims is 91,567, with 76,972 cases (84.1%) having completed review. The total number of cases approved for compensation, including this round, is 22,224 (28.9%).

There are 188 individuals eligible for medical expense support for suspected related diseases and 8 individuals eligible for death condolence payments. "Suspected related diseases" refer to illnesses suspected to be related to the COVID-19 vaccine but lacking sufficient evidence to confirm causality; medical expenses up to 50 million KRW and death condolence payments up to 100 million KRW can be provided.

For 47 individuals eligible for condolence payments of up to 10 million KRW under the category of "cause of death unknown after autopsy," applications are being accepted through the respective local governments, and payments have been completed for 39 individuals.