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The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) says it is developing an evaluation framework for the federal vaccine injuries program, according to a recent strategy report.
The report, 2025–2030 Interim National Immunization Strategy (NIS), said it would serve as an “overarching framework” for federal, provincial, and territorial governments for the next five years.
It said the goal was to address the “evolving immunization landscape,” and strengthen immunization programing and efforts toward “equitable health outcomes” for everyone living in Canada.
PHAC said that the vaccine injury support program was a “pillar” of the NIS, adding that the goal was for Canada to have a system that offers financial support to those with serious or permanent vaccine injuries.
The vaccine injury program officially launched on June 1, 2021, defining vaccine injury as a “severe, life-threatening or life-altering injury that may require in-person hospitalization, or a prolongation of existing hospitalization, and results in persistent or significant disability or incapacity,” including death.
The NIS report noted that one move going forward would be to “develop and implement an independent, evidence-based evaluation mechanism” for the vaccine injury program.
The report said the evaluation mechanism would focus on protecting privacy, equity, and timelines.
The program was recently criticized following a report by Global News that some applicants have been waiting years for compensation decisions. It prompted four Conservative MPs to write a letter in July calling for a meeting of the Standing Committee on Health to address concerns over the program.
The letter was signed by MPs Dan Mazier, Burton Bailey, Helena Konanz, and Matt Strauss.
In the letter, the MPs noted that media reports indicate 1,700 injury claims out of 3,100 applications remained unresolved.
Online program statistics say that 3,317 applications had been received as of June 1 and that 234 applications have been approved by a medical review board. It also said that more than $18 million had been paid out for claims since the program began.
A government briefing note from June said applications to the program can take 12 to 18 months to be processed. It also noted that as of June 20, nearly $81 million had been allocated to Oxaro for administration costs and claim payments for the program.
The Conservative MPs said in the letter that they were deeply concerned that Ottawa was considering renewing the contract with Oxaro, a third-party administrator of the program.
Recently, Health Minister Marjorie Michel’s office confirmed that the agreement with Oxaro will end on March 31, 2026. The government will take over the program at that time, according to Global News.
Oxaro previously told The Epoch Times in an email it has no comment at this time.
