A rogue strain of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine has been proven to have caused deafness in at least two children, it has been claimed.
Katie Stephen, who lost the use of her left ear days after being inoculated as a child, is reportedly the first known victim to prove her case to the Vaccine Damage Payments Unit.
But the 21-year-old has been refused the £120,000 payout for vaccine injury because it is only given to people with 60% disablement, according to The Times.
The measure used by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) to decide payouts defines single-sided deafness as 20% disablement. It comes after a second victim, who lost hearing in both ears, received compensation in a previous case, the paper said.