The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is accelerating its audit of Oxaro, the company managing the Vaccine Injury Support Program (VISP), and has tasked its staff with recommending new delivery models for the services aimed at supporting Canadians facing vaccine-related injuries. In the wake of a concerning three-part investigation by Global News, PHAC’s senior communications advisor Emilie Gauduchon-Campbell emphasized that all options for the future of the program are being considered to ensure taxpayer dollars are utilized effectively. This follows mounting scrutiny of VISP, highlighted by Health Minister Michel’s commitment to investigate and resolve the program’s ongoing issues.
Originally launched by the Liberal government in 2020 to assist individuals seriously harmed by vaccination during Canada’s extensive COVID-19 vaccination effort, the VISP was outsourced to Oxaro Inc. in 2021. However, allegations of mismanagement have surfaced from applicants and former employees, revealing that despite $54 million in funding, the program has struggled to deliver necessary support effectively. In response to these concerns, four Conservative MPs are calling for a formal investigation, and a notable health organization is urging an immediate overhaul of the program.
The investigation unveiled that Oxaro had received over $50 million in public funding, but the distribution of financial support was uneven, with only 16.9 million going to injured Canadians. The original estimates for injury claims were grossly underestimated; the program anticipated 40 to 400 claims per year, yet more than 3,300 applications have been filed to date, leading to significant delays and a crisis of trust in service delivery. Many applicants report difficulties in accessing case managers and even resorting to fundraising for survival while they await decisions on their claims.
Internal documents suggest that the program’s rollout was poorly planned, with PHAC and Oxaro failing to anticipate the volume of applications. A spokesperson from VISP, identified only as “William,” admitted the substantial discrepancy in application forecasts and highlighted their adaptive measures in response to this unexpected demand. Despite these claims, many stakeholders remain skeptical about Oxaro’s capability to effectively serve the program’s mission of providing timely and fair support to injured Canadians.
Furthermore, there are troubling accounts of a workplace culture at Oxaro that undermines the program’s seriousness, with reports of distractions and a lack of professionalism among staff. Employees noted a decline in the severity of workplace conduct and expressed concerns that the staff did not fully grasp the importance and urgency of the program. These revelations have raised alarms over the management and operational integrity of VISP.
As PHAC moves forward with its audit and the Health Minister emphasizes the need for solutions, the future of the Vaccine Injury Support Program hangs in the balance. Stakeholders from across the political spectrum, as well as health organizations, are advocating for significant changes to ensure that the initiative can successfully fulfill its intended purpose in a manner that is respectful and beneficial to injured Canadians, thereby restoring public confidence in government support programs aimed at vulnerable populations.
