The usual liability rules that apply to other medicinal products and vaccines also apply to the COVID-19 vaccination. Liability for vaccination damage could fall to the vaccine manufacturer (product liability), the vaccination centre (agent’s contract liability or state liability) or, on a subsidiary basis, the federal government.
The federal government can only pay compensation for vaccination damages for vaccinations recommended or ordered by the authorities. However, the federal government will only pay compensation for damages that are not otherwise covered (subsidiary liability). In other words, a person suffering damages is only entitled to compensation if the damage has not already been covered, for example, by the vaccine manufacturer (product liability), the person administering the vaccination (medical liability) or by social or private insurance.
Federal government compensation is thus intended to mitigate the consequences for those affected if third parties, such as the person administering the vaccination or the vaccine manufacturer, are not liable. Entitlement to compensation from the federal government will be assessed in each individual case.
You will find more information on the website for vaccination damage in German, French or Italian.