Families of people harmed by the coronavirus vaccine have told the UK Covid Inquiry they have been forced to support each other during the pandemic because there is no other help.

Kate Scott, a representative for Vaccine Injury and Bereavement UK (VIBUK), said they felt "almost pushed into the shadows during the pandemic".

The inquiry also heard from a victims' group in Scotland who were concerned the vaccine was being rolled out too quickly, sacrificing safety for speed.

This is the fourth module of the survey and will consider issues related to the development of Covid-19 vaccines and their implementation.

Mrs Scott, whose husband Jamie is severely disabled as a result of the vaccine, said: "We are faced with an uncomfortable truth, but it is a truth about us and it applies to everyone in our community - the vaccine Caused serious injuries and death."

Jamie Scott, a father of two boys, was working in a high-level job until he was seriously injured by the coronavirus vaccine.

He was in a coma for four weeks and five days and suffered an extremely rare, life-threatening side effect called VITT, or vaccine-induced immune thrombosis and thrombocytopenia.

Jamie survived, but suffered severe brain injuries that affected his thought processes. He is now blind and his wife says he will never be able to live independently.

Jamie received £120,000 - the maximum amount under the Government's Vaccine Damage Compensation Scheme.

His wife was well aware that neither of them were against vaccines, but she said he would never work again and that the amount was not fair or adequate.

“The program is inadequate and ineffective – delivering too little, too late, to too few people,” she said.

The inquiry heard that freedom of information request data from VIBUK showed that as of November 30, 2024, victims and their families had made 17,519 claims against the scheme.

in:

• 194 people have been informed they are entitled to the payment
• 1,027 people have been waiting for a decision for more than 12 months
• 126 people have waited for three years and still have not made a decision.

In a trembling voice, Baroness Heather Hallett, chair of the Covid Inquiry, told Jean Rossiter, whose son Peter died after contracting Covid-19: "I have two sons too Mother of two sons the same age as Peter, so I can only imagine the pain and sadness you are going through."

Jean told the inquest that Peter Rossiter was a talented classical pianist who brought music to life as head of the music department at a school.

However, despite being a key worker, he did not receive his first dose of the vaccine until May 2021, five months after receiving the first dose in the UK.

That summer, he contracted the coronavirus and became seriously ill. He was admitted to the hospital's intensive care unit, but died on August 11, 2021.

Peter's mother Jean, who helped set up Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK, said Peter had remained healthy.

"He followed the rules, we all followed the rules, and in our opinion as parents we did everything right, but Peter still lost his life, like so many families in our group," she said.

Baroness Hallett said: “Many people say Covid-19 only affects older people.

"You have a healthy young son, under 40, so it helps to remind people that we're not just protecting people who might think they're playing well; we're protecting the entire population."

The family of the deceased also raised the following concerns:

• Some people delay getting vaccinated
• Poor communication of guidance to the public
• dose interval - the interval between the second and third doses of vaccine
• Prioritize certain groups over others

The Scottish Vaccine Injury Group (SVIG), which represents 750 people, said it was concerned the vaccine was being rolled out too quickly, sacrificing safety for speed.

It also raises serious concerns about the government's vaccine damage compensation scheme.

Ruth O'Rafferty of SVIG said it would be "a traumatic experience" for any applicant.

60% disability is the criterion for this award. She questioned how this could be proven when a person's condition fluctuates. She also said many of their members suffered neurological damage and had difficulty filling out forms.

The inquiry will hear evidence on the issue in London over the next three weeks.