Employee and business groups have welcomed the federal government’s announcement on Saturday to introduce a no fault COVID-19 indemnity scheme that will give financial compensation to people who experience serious adverse side-effects from the vaccine. The scheme will give businesses the confidence to hand out vaccine mandates to employees by offering financial protection to all Australians receiving COVID-19 vaccines. Health Minister Greg Hunt said the scheme would be backdated to February 2021 and cover the costs of injuries above $5,000 (U.S.$3,650) from proven adverse reactions to a COVID-19 vaccination. Independent experts will assess claims. The Australian Medical Association (AMA) said they had been the leading body in pushing this scheme, working closely with the government and other organisations. “This scheme is a vote of confidence in the safety of the vaccines being used in Australia and sends a strong message to patients that, in the extremely rare case of serious …