The first compensation against AstraZeneca covid vaccine death in UK have been awarded a woman whose partner died after receiving the jab.

Fit and healthy former rock singer known simply as Zion, 48, of Cumbria, fell ill eight days after he had his injection and died in May 2021. Vikki Spit, his partner has been awarded the maximum settlement of £120,000 but said it was not enough.

Ms Spit also said she had to wait too long for compensation under the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme 1979, and the amount had not kept track with inflation since the scheme was set up.

Covid-19 Vaccine damage payments which was brought under the 1979 scheme is available to anyone who has become disabled as a result of having a vaccination and people can also apply on behalf of someone who has died.

The scheme offers one-off, tax-free sums of up to £120,000 and while payments do not affect people’s rights to take legal action, they can have implications for their benefits.

Ms Spit called an ambulance for Zion when he began suffering “excruciating” headaches on 13 May last year and he died in Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary six days later.

His death certificate confirmed he died due to complications from the vaccine and his donated liver and kidneys helped save the lives of three people.

James Bell, medical negligence partner at Hodge Jones and Allen, said: “While I am glad that Vikki has been able to receive some restitution for the hardship she has faced as a result of Zion’s death, the scheme simply isn’t fit for purpose.

“Not only has the application process been lengthy and inefficient, but the compensation Vikki received fails to reflect and remediate the full economic impact of her fiancé’s death.”