South Korea to Pay More to Families of People Who Died After COVID-19 Vaccination

Families of people who died within 90 days of a shot will be eligible for up to 30 million won ($22,604 U.S. dollars)

South Korean authorities watch as a person receives a COVID-19 vaccine in a file photograph. South Korean Presidential Blue House via Getty Images

South Korean officials are preparing to pay more money to the families of people who died within three months of COVID-19 vaccination, including in some cases where an autopsy was not performed.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency announced the update this month, expanding the timeline for possible vaccine victims.

Families of people who died within 90 days of a shot will be eligible for up to 30 million won ($22,604 U.S. dollars). That’s up from 42 days and 10 million won, parameters created in July 2022.

The money is available to families of people who died after a shot and an autopsy could not determine the cause.

Officials are also introducing funding for families whose loved ones died after vaccination and no autopsy was performed prior to July 19, 2022. Those families are eligible for up to 20 million won if the cause of death for their relatives is unknown.

The changes to the compensation system were made after meeting with advocacy groups, medical professionals, and lawyers, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said in a statement.

The purpose of the changes is to “strengthen national responsibility by significantly expanding the target and scope of death-related support ... even if causality with vaccination is not recognized,” according to the agency.

“Korea was able to achieve a higher inoculation rate compared with the rest of the world because people trusted the state and went to get vaccinated,” Rep. Park Dae-chul said during a meeting, the Korea Herald reported. “In this regard, it is the state’s responsibility to tackle the blind spot in helping out those who fell victim to the vaccination policy.”

South Korea, like many governments around the world, paid for COVID-19 vaccines and dispensed them freely to citizens. Authorities encouraged people to receive the shots.

Current numbers show that 83 families of people who died after COVID-19 vaccination saw their applications for money accepted, with many receiving condolence funds and 18 receiving extra money because their deaths were designated as related to the vaccinations.

Another change relates to deaths within three days of a COVID-19 vaccination that an expert committee determined were not caused by the shot. The agency will review the deaths and give out funding of 1 to 30 million won to families of the deceased.

“Through this plan to expand death-related support, we will take a closer look at death cases that have been excluded from compensation and support," Dr. Youngmee Jee, commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, said in a statement.

Previous Changes

Korean authorities in 2021 started paying medical expenses for people who died or were otherwise stricken by diseases suspected to be or confirmed to be related to the vaccines.

Payments introduced earlier were up to 50 million won for medical expenses incurred by people who suffered a disease suspected to be caused by a shot, and up to 100 million won for people who died with a disease suspected of being related.

The list of suspected related diseases includes tinnitus, facial nerve paralysis, and abnormal uterine bleeding.

Diseases authorities have determined are caused by the shots include myocarditis, a form of heart inflammation, and a related condition called pericarditis.

The system was revamped in 2022, with new President Yoon Suk-yeol following through on a campaign promise, the Herald reported.

Other Countries

Other countries have also created compensation schemes for the vaccine-injured. Most shield vaccine makers from liability.

The United Kingdom, for instance, pays £120,000 ($150,188) to people who prove that the vaccine they received caused them to become severely disabled.

Australia will pay (pdf) funeral expenses and lump sum payments to families who show their loved ones died likely died from a vaccine injury.

Japan has agreed to make payments in some cases, including deaths, but did not make the first payout for a death until July 2022. after they determined a connection could not be denied. Authorities have since made additional payments.

Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson pressured South African authorities to implement a scheme that featured the companies being absolved of liability except in cases of fraud, recently disclosed documents showed.

The United States will provide small sums to people who have been injured by vaccines, or to families whose loved ones died from a condition caused by a vaccine. To date, the country has made just four payments, the highest of which was $3,957. Other claims have been adjudicated and are pending compensation.

The U.S. Health Services and Resources Administration, which deals with claims and compensates people, did not respond to a request for information on the payouts, including whether any were for people who died.

Three of the payouts were for people who suffered myocarditis from a COVID-19 shot, while the fourth was for a person who suffered anaphylaxis, or severe allergic shock, following COVID-19 vaccination.

Dozens of death certificates in the United States list COVID-19 vaccination as a cause of death, while about 90 deaths outside the country were said to be caused by vaccines as of March.