OTTAWA, ON, Sept. 18, 2026 /CNW/ -- The Government of Canada is committed to supporting people in Canada who have experienced a serious and permanent vaccine-related injury through the Vaccine Impact Assistance Program (VIAP) and to providing claimants with the information they need to navigate the process more easily.
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) assumed responsibility for administering the VIAP on April 1, 2026, bringing existing claims and appeals, financial supports, and a significant volume of claim information and documentation under direct Government of Canada administration. Today, PHAC is highlighting the steps it has taken to support claimants and establish the program under direct Government of Canada administration by posting current program statistics.
PHAC has focused on putting the core systems, services, policies and processes in place to deliver the program and support claimants. Together, these measures are intended to give claimants clearer access to information about the program and their claims, provide greater transparency as claims move through the process, and support consistent and efficient program delivery. This work includes:
- organizing and validating transferred claims information into the new IT system;
- launching the new VIAP Claimant Portal on July 2;
- providing existing claimants with updates about the transition and their files through letters and information sessions;
- expanding the information available on Canada.ca; and
- posting online the VIAP Policy Framework along with supporting guidance to help explain how the program works.
Following the transition to direct Government of Canada administration, PHAC has also prioritized continuity of approved financial supports for eligible claimants.
With the core implementation work now largely complete, the focus is shifting to assessing the more than 2,000 open claims and appeals already in the system. PHAC has a dedicated medical team in place to support this work, and continues to receive new claims and maintain approved financial supports for eligible claimants.
Associated links
- Vaccine Impact Assistance Program
- Vaccine Injury Compensation Program: Government of Québec
- Data blog: Vaccine Impact Assistance Program
- Vaccine safety: Resources for health professionals on surveillance, reporting and regulation
SOURCE Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)
Contacts: Media Relations, Public Health Agency of Canada, 613-957-2983, [email protected]
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