For Michael Barnes, the psychological consequences of his body suffering a rare severe reaction to the Covid vaccine are as devastating as the physical injuries.
“I used to be very outgoing, but now I’m on the other end of the spectrum,” says the 35-year-old music engineer from Banbury, Oxfordshire. I. “I spoke very well and I had a good vocabulary, but now I have problems with pronunciation of words. I don’t leave the house anymore.”
Michael is one of at least 445 people in the UK known to have had a severe and dangerous reaction to AstraZeneca’s vaccine.
The vaccine is credited with protecting tens of millions of people from the potentially devastating effects of Covid, which has caused more than 220,000 deaths in the UK and more than 6.8 million people worldwide.
And the NHS advice remains that having a vaccine is much better than not having one, because the risk of a severe reaction is much lower than the chances of dying from Covid or being hospitalized.
But hundreds of people have had severe reactions to AstraZeneca and other vaccines. The blood clots have caused a mix of strokes, heart attacks and paralysis, and some of those affected are unlikely to make a full recovery.
AstraZeneca was asked to comment on the lawsuit but said it was unable to comment at this time. However, a spokesperson said: “Patient safety is our top priority and regulators have clear and stringent standards in place to ensure the safe use of all medicines, including vaccines. Our condolences to everyone who reported health issues.”
Michael is one of 73 people who have joined the class-action lawsuit against AstraZeneca, citing the Covid vaccine as the cause of their injuries. He has brain damage and his thought process is still impaired. His mobility and vision are impaired. He is very afraid; Light and sound affect him. He is also at risk for further blood clots.
“I received the Covid vaccine from AstraZeneca in March 2021, earlier than people in my age group, because I have bipolar disorder. [disorder],” He says.
“Honestly, I was a little hesitant to get vaccinated as I was at pretty low risk given my age, but I felt I had to get it for the good of the general public. I was in good health and went to the gym, worked out with weights and on the rowing machine.
“I felt a little skeptical the day I got the injection they said was to be expected. After a few days I felt better, but after about five days I started to feel dizzy. Then I continued to get sick.
Doctors could not determine the cause of the problem and sent him home from the hospital, but a few days later Michael had a stroke and was put into an induced coma. The vaccine caused a blood clot in his brain and resulted in a cerebral hemorrhage, meaning he needed a decompressive hemicraniotomy.
“I don’t remember a week ago at all. I was in an induced coma for over three weeks. Because of the pressure on my brain, the doctors had to operate and remove part of the skull. Waking up with this was very unrealistic. It took me a while to figure out where I was and what was going on.
“At that moment, I couldn’t walk at all, which made me very depressed. I just didn’t have any skills. It wasn’t until a month later that I realized the extent of the paralysis.”
Coming out of intensive care, Michael spent two months in John Radcliffe’s Hospital in Oxfordshire recovering, and then another two months in a rehabilitation center where he had to relearn how to walk.
“The hospital staff often talked about the reasons because I was such an interesting and new case, I think. Several weeks passed before I was allowed to go home. I tried to master the concept of “gain weight”, but looking back, I put on so much weight, which is very different from me, [I was] very depressed by everything that happened. I ignored it for a long time.”
NHS Business Services, as administrator of the UK’s statutory vaccine damage scheme, accepted his claim for compensation and confirmed that the vaccine had left him severely disabled.
He says: “My mobility is still very limited. I can’t do anything with my right hand. I can’t write very well. I have very poor peripheral vision. My ability to see things on screen leaves a lot to be desired; I can’t read very well. walking is a struggle. I can’t go anywhere alone. I have bad balance. I have problems with conversation, I follow what people say, talk. This is a real fight.
“I live with my girlfriend and she has been fantastic support for me. A true warrior in every way. She cooks and cleans everything. I just can’t do much. I can’t even hold a frying pan to stir. We had to move to another apartment, which was more convenient for me to live in, since I have to live on the first floor. Of course, now I can’t work, which puts us in an additional financial position.
“Rehab has definitely slowed down over the past few months, partly because I’m getting better, but also partly because I just didn’t have enough sessions. I had to adjust my gait so that my hips don’t get worse because of my posture and the way I walk now.”
Michael’s legal team said he fairly represents hundreds of other people in the UK who have been seriously injured and are now seriously disabled by the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, including 81 deaths.
“I try not to consciously think about everything that happened,” he says. “Every time I thought about it, it really got in the way of my recovery. My friend has very strong views and thoughts, as you can imagine given the impact of the vaccine on my life. There is a clear sense of justice and responsibility.
“I really don’t know what I want from this. Hardly anything will get better. will only slowly get worse.
Source: I News
I’m Raymond Molina, a professional writer and journalist with over 5 years of experience in the media industry. I currently work for 24 News Reporters, where I write for the health section of their news website. In my role, I am responsible for researching and writing stories on current health trends and issues. My articles are often seen as thought-provoking pieces that provide valuable insight into the state of society’s wellbeing.