The Hong Kong SAR Government (Government) has set up the Indemnity Fund for Adverse Events Following Immunization with Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) Vaccines (AEFI Fund) to cover the indemnities offered to vaccine manufacturers under bilateral purchase agreements, and to provide financial support to eligible individuals who have proof of suffering from unexpected serious adverse events (SAEs) associated with a COVID-19 vaccine. 

AXA Hong Kong is the Third-Party Administrator (Administrator) appointed by the government to process the applications of the AEFI Fund.

An affected individual, who has proof of suffering unexpected SAE certified by a Registered Medical Practitioner (RMP) (certification of SAE) arising from any dose of the COVID-19 vaccine of any kind under the Government’s COVID-19 Vaccination Programme, is eligible to apply for the AEFI Fund.

The AEFI Fund does not cover COVID-19 vaccination administered on or after 24 December 2023 under the Government COVID-19 Vaccination Programe or all COVID-19 Vaccine administrated by private doctors outside the Government’s Vaccination programme.

The AEFI Fund serves to provide financial support to eligible affected individuals.  There is no specific requirement on the usage of the payout (e.g. to cover medical expense or living expense due to loss of income, etc.)  The amount of payout depends on the severity of the SAE but not on the amount of medical expense. 

The maximum payout level for death and injuries associated with listed SAEs are as below:

Payout for death associated with listed SAEs:

Payout for injuries associated with listed SAEs:

While reference is made to the AEFI and Adverse Events of Special Interest (AESI) lists endorsed by the Expert Committee on Clinical Event Assessment following COVID-19 Immunization Expert Committee (Expert Committee), not all events under the AEFI and AESI lists may be considered as serious injuries eligible for payout under the AEFI Fund.  Further classification on the severity of the events would be assessed to determine the eligibility and corresponding level of payout as appropriate.