The VISP was publicly announced by the government of Canada on December 8, 2020 and is intended to compensate individuals severely injured by vaccines authorized by Health Canada. As their needs become more acute, claimants are more and more taking the program to task for letting them down. VISP will help offer compensation to people who experienced negative side effects from COVID-19 vaccines. Far too many have faced immense hurdles to accessing that support.
The VISP provides a single injury lump sum payment award plus an income replacement benefit, up to a maximum of $90,000 annually. Unlike comparable programs in the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Germany—which are administered by public entities—VISP does the opposite. It turns to outsourcing as a substitute. The primary purpose secondary use distinction has shifted the burden of ensuring the program’s effectiveness and accountability onto the provider community.
Canada has given out more than 105 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines. Of the total recipients only about 11,500 people, or 0.011% adverse reactions reported. For 45-year-old service manager Stephen MacDougall, he’s one of them. His death was attributed to a life-threatening adverse reaction to the vaccine. His widow, Kimberly, has tried to use VISP, too, but has faced barriers at every turn.
Becky Marie Campbell, a British Columbia-native who suffered from vision issues, experienced constant denials from VISP. Furthermore, her doctor was adamant on his side that her condition was definitely related to the vaccine. She told us how the program failed to communicate about changes.
“You didn’t call me, you had no appointment with me,” – Becky Marie Campbell
Make no mistake, Mike Becker had an impossible task. He was not granted assistance, as there was insufficient evidence connecting his negative reaction to the vaccine. Dan Hartman said his insurance claim was denied. He is convinced that the vaccine was a direct cause of his son Sean’s death.
As a result, Nicole Wightman was able to recover $270,000 in indemnities from VISP. This occurred after she developed Guillain-Barré syndrome as a result of her vaccination. Wightman has been a public critic of the government’s failure to investigate VISP’s activities.
“I don’t think they (the government) have any desire to investigate VISP,” – Nicole Wightman
Home care claimants have consistently described long wait times to receive medical expenses reimbursements, as well as confusion with the application process. Many individuals struggling with their health and financial stability have turned to online fundraising efforts to survive while awaiting support.
Lawyer Jasmine Daya passionately argued on behalf of the vaccine injury support creation program. She makes a compelling case about the current lack of financial support of vaccine injury victims. Dr. Kumanan Wilson, CEO of the Bruyère Health Research Institute, warned officials about the difficulty other countries had rolling out similar programs. He touched upon the fundamental importance of good communication.
“Such poor communication and record-keeping undermine trust in the program and create additional stress for those who depend on it,” – Dr. Kumanan Wilson
VISP officials have been accused of “institutional indifference” to the pain endured by claimants. People like Pollock rue their time in the program, with many feeling abandoned.
“I’m expected to live on in a society that doesn’t care about me,” – Pollock
Pollock went on to describe the financial pressures he is now under because of his disease.
“Unfortunately, it costs me more to be alive than if I were dead,” – Pollock
The obstacles faced by claimants reveal systemic procedural shortcomings with VISP. They share the experience of being made to feel like their hard fought battles for relevancy and identity have been minimized as collateral damage to this bureaucratic journey.
“It wasn’t about the money … It was about receiving support from my country. Instead, I felt I was faceless,” – Becky Marie Campbell
Canada is trying to lead the way in dealing with the challenges of vaccine-related injures. These experiences from those who have depended on VISP show that clearer communication, expedited processing, and greater advocacy for impacted people is urgently needed.
