Ross Wightman may be the first person in Canada to receive compensation for a COVID-19 vaccine injury.
The Lake Country man said life came to a halt for him shortly after receiving his first and only dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine on April 30, 2021.
A year later on May 27, he received confirmation of compensation, stating it took 11 months from first starting the paperwork to finally getting approved.
B次元官网网址淚t was about 10 days later I woke up in the middle of the night with excruciating back pain, my low back and into my hamstring that lasted for about four days.B次元官网网址�
Wightman said his fourth trip to the emergency department included facial tingling and paralysis as a symptom. ThatB次元官网网址檚 when he says his life flipped upside-down.
B次元官网网址淭he neurologist that was consulted made a pretty quick decision based on my presentation and the vaccination timeline to order a lumbar puncture, which is one of the telltale signs of Guillain-Barr茅, which I have,B次元官网网址� Wightman said. B次元官网网址淚 was admitted mid-morning on a Saturday and I think it was before dinner, so you know six hours later kind of thing, that I was told I most likely have Guillain-Barr茅, something that IB次元官网网址檇 never even heard of before.B次元官网网址�
Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is a rare disorder in which a bodyB次元官网网址檚 immune system attacks the nerves. Weakness and tingling in the extremities are usually the first symptoms, which can quickly spread and paralyze the whole body.
Last year the European Medicines Agency (EMA)B次元官网网址檚 Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) issued a statement recommending the addition of a warning to raise awareness of GBS following the AstraZeneca vaccination, although they could not confirm nor rule out an association with the vaccine.
A total of 227 cases of GBS were reported to the EMA with an AstraZeneca vaccination on June 27, 2021, while around 51.4 million doses of AstraZeneca had been given to people in the European Union by June 20, 2021.
Wightman explained it was only recently heB次元官网网址檚 been able to walk without a walker.
Since the incident, Wightman said heB次元官网网址檚 had a couple of rounds of immunoglobulin IV therapy, which didnB次元官网网址檛 work and heB次元官网网址檚 undergone plasma exchange, physio and occupational therapy.
B次元官网网址淧utting my clothes on, brushing my teeth thatB次元官网网址檚 all really fatiguing for my hands.B次元官网网址�
But he can breathe a little easier now knowing the financial compensation will let him focus more on recovery than on how the family will pay their bills.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not going to say how much yet because IB次元官网网址檓 not sure where itB次元官网网址檚 going. All that IB次元官网网址檝e been telling people is that the framework of the program will pay up to $284,000 for pain and suffering. Then there is also a loss of income and then there will be expenses paid. In my case, a wheelchair, shower bench, adaptive equipment, orthotics, all that kind of stuff.B次元官网网址�
Wightman, with great support from his wife, he worked with the .
It reports less than five Canadians have had the Medical Review Board determine the probable link between the vaccine and their injury, and that the injury is serious and permanent.
B次元官网网址淚 was told, I believe, that IB次元官网网址檓 the first person in Canada to receive it,B次元官网网址� Wightman said.
He also said he has yet to meet anyone else who has been approved for compensation.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e certainly heard from lots of people that have had vaccine injuries, but I havenB次元官网网址檛 heard from anybody that has got the same letter that I have.B次元官网网址�
Wightman is confident in time he will make a full recovery. He said heB次元官网网址檚 beating the drum for the healthcare workers on his recovery team commenting that he wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be where he is today without the amazing support system behind him.
To anyone experiencing similar challenges, he says he hopes their perseverance will pay off as his has.
B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e not alone. There are lots of us out there and thereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of supportB次元官网网址peak up.B次元官网网址�
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