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Peter Todd, Consultant Solicitor at Scott-Moncrieff & Associates, has been featured by Sky News in reports examining concerns about the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme.
The reports in September 2024 and June 2026 focused on the family of John Cross, an NHS pharmacist who suffered severe paralysing complications after receiving a Covid vaccine and was initially denied a payment under the scheme. Overwhelmed by his circumstances, he sadly took his own life. His family has spoken publicly about the impact of the decision-making process and their concerns that the current system is failing people affected by rare but serious vaccine-related injuries.
Speaking to Sky News, Peter, who has extensive experience in vaccine injury cases, has long raised concerns about how the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme assesses complex claims. He explained that the 60% disability threshold is often misunderstood and that assessors must consider both physical disablement and the psychological impact of the injury.
The case highlights the difficulty many claimants face when trying to explain the full effect of vaccine injury through a complex paper-based process. Peter has also argued that relying heavily on medical records alone can fail to capture the real day-to-day impact on individuals and their families.
Almost 3 years later, Peter, who represented the Cross family, succeeded in winning an appeal. The government scheme conceded that the vaccine did cause his symptoms, and he was indeed disabled enough to be entitled to a vaccine damage payment.
Sky News reported that the Cross family is calling for urgent reform of the scheme. Of over 23,000 applications, only 252 cases have received a payment. And with long delays and no legal aid available for appeals to the vaccine damage scheme, there are questions about whether the current compensation framework is fit for purpose.
Peter’s involvement reflects his longstanding work in this highly specialist area, where careful legal analysis, medical evidence and a strong understanding of the scheme are essential.
You can watch the full reports here:
https://news.sky.com/video/family-says-vaccine-compensation-scheme-is-failing-victims-13554632
