Federal government taking over vaccine injury compensation, looks to address backlog

By Canadian Press on March 31, 2026.

OTTAWA — The federal public health agency is taking over administration of a program that provides compensation to people who have been injured by vaccines.

The Vaccine Injury Support Program began accepting claims in June 2021, after the widespread rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine.

People who experienced a “serious and permanent injury” as a result of receiving any shot authorized by Health Canada after December 2020 are eligible to make a claim.

More than 3,500 people had applied for compensation as of last December, and just over $21 million in compensation has been paid out to 252 people.

Health Minister Marjorie Michel ordered an accelerated audit of the program last year, following allegations of mismanagement by the third-party administrator Oxaro.

A news release says the Public Health Agency of Canada will take over now that the contract with Oxaro has expired, and will work to deal with the backlog of applications and improve the claims process.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 31, 2026.

Sarah Ritchie, The Canadian Press