Vaccine damage is understood to be "the health and economic consequence of damage to health caused by vaccination that exceeds the usual extent of a vaccination reaction; vaccine damage also exists if vaccination was carried out with pathogens that are capable of reproduction and someone other than the vaccinated person was harmed" (§ 2 IfSG). Vaccination injuries are subject to the regulations of the social compensation law (Bundesversorgungsgesetz). Anyone who has suffered vaccine damage as a result of a publicly recommended vaccination can apply to receive care under the Federal Compensation Act. This is expressly regulated in § 60 of the Infection Protection Act (IfSG). It is the responsibility of the pension office in the respective federal state to assess whether a health impairment that occurred in connection with a vaccination was caused by the vaccination. A negative decision by the pension office can be appealed to the social courts.
The health office can provide assistance in initiating the necessary examinations leading to clarification of the case and offer help in initiating the compensation procedure (communication from the Robert Koch Institute).