Federal Government Steps In: Will You Be Compensated for Vaccine Injuries? Shocking Details Inside!

The Canadian government has officially transitioned its vaccine injury support program to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) as of April 1, 2026, following the expiration of a contract with Oxaro, the company previously managing the program. This change aims to enhance the program's efficiency and address existing backlogs in claims processing.

Under the new structure, applications that were submitted to the former program will automatically transfer to the newly established vaccine impact assistance program. However, it's important to note that Quebec will continue to administer its own separate compensation program.

In a recent news release, PHAC indicated that it would focus on resolving the current backlog of claims while also striving for greater consistency and transparency in the claims process. This is particularly significant given that over 105 million COVID-19 vaccine doses were administered in Canada between December 2020 and December 2023. Notably, reports of adverse effects from the vaccines have been exceedingly rare, with 58,712 adverse event reports recorded, constituting just 0.056 percent of all vaccinations. Out of these reports, 11,702 were categorized as serious, representing only 0.011 percent of doses given.

Controversy arose last year when an investigation by Global News revealed that Oxaro was not adequately prepared to handle the volume of claims it received. The investigation highlighted that approximately $33.7 million of the $50.6 million allocated to Oxaro for managing the program was spent on administrative costs, raising concerns about financial mismanagement. In response to these allegations, Michelle Rempel Garner, a member of Parliament, had urged PHAC to expedite an audit of Oxaro’s administration in May 2025.

Moreover, PHAC has tasked Dr. Kumanan Wilson with reviewing how other G7 countries and Quebec have managed their compensation programs. The findings indicated that these places effectively run their programs without the need for third-party oversight, prompting the Canadian government to adopt a similar approach after the contract expired.

As of December 1, 2025, data from the vaccine injury support program revealed that 3,557 claims had been filed. Of these, 451 claims were deemed inadmissible, while just over 3,000 claims were set for medical review. Additionally, more than 850 individuals were still in the process of gathering medical records, and the medical review board had assessed more than 1,400 claims.

To date, 252 claims have been approved, resulting in over $21 million in compensation disbursed to those affected. Although the program's website does not specify wait times, it does note that the collection of medical records can be a lengthy process, impacting the speed at which claims are processed.

This shift in management from Oxaro to PHAC signifies a crucial step toward improving the support for Canadians who may have experienced adverse effects from the COVID-19 vaccination. As the country continues to navigate its recovery from the pandemic, these changes reflect a commitment to better serve the needs of the public while maintaining transparency and accountability in the management of health-related programs.