Families Failed By Covid Jabs Tell Inquiry Of Pain

Families of those harmed by Covid vaccines told nan UK Covid Inquiry they were forced to support each different during nan pandemic because location was nary different help.

Kate Scott, who represents nan group Vaccine Injured and Bereaved UK (VIBUK), said they felt they were "almost being pushed into nan shadows during nan pandemic".

The enquiry besides heard from a victims' group successful Scotland which raised concerns that nan vaccine had been rolled retired excessively quickly, and that information had been sacrificed for speed.

This is the Inquiry's 4th module, which will see issues relating to nan improvement of Covid-19 vaccines and their implementation.

Jamie Scott, a begetter of 2 boys, worked successful a high-powered occupation until he was severely injured by a Covid vaccine.

He spent 4 weeks and 5 days successful a coma and suffered an highly rare, life-threatening broadside effect called VITT, aliases vaccine-induced immune thrombosis and thrombocytopenia.

Jamie survived, but suffered a important encephalon injury, which affected his reasoning processes. He is now partially unsighted and his woman says he will ne'er unrecorded independently.

Jamie has received £120,000 - nan maximum payout from nan government's Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme.

His wife, who is clear that neither of them is against vaccines, says he will ne'er activity again and that this is not a adjacent aliases capable amount.

"The strategy is inadequate and inefficient - offers excessively small excessively precocious and to excessively few," she said.

The enquiry heard that figures from a Freedom of Information petition by VIBUK show that, arsenic of 30 November 2024, victims and their families person made 17,519 claims to nan scheme.

Of these:

• 194 person been notified that they are entitled to nan payment
• 1,027 group person waited much than 12 months for a decision
• 126 group do not person a determination aft waiting 3 years

Peter Rossiter was a highly talented, classical pianist who brought euphony to life while caput of euphony successful a school, Jean told nan inquiry.

However, contempt being a cardinal worker, he only received his first vaccine successful May 2021 - 5 months aft nan first jab was fixed successful nan UK.

That summertime he was infected pinch Covid and became earnestly ill, was admitted to intensive attraction successful infirmary but died connected 11 August 2021.

Peter had kept himself fit, said his mother Jean who helped group up nan group Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK.

"He followed nan rules, we each did and it seems to america arsenic parents that we did everything correct and yet Peter mislaid his life still, arsenic did truthful galore of nan families who're successful our group," she said.

Baroness Hallett said: "So galore group said that Covid-19 only affects nan older people.

"You had a fresh and patient young son, nether 40, and truthful it helps to punctual group that we are not conscionable astir protecting group who immoderate whitethorn deliberation person had a bully innings; we are astir protecting nan full population."

The bereaved families besides raised concerns about:

• delays successful immoderate group receiving vaccines
• poor connection of nan guidance for nan public
• the dosage interval - nan spread betwixt 2nd and 3rd doses of nan vaccine
• the prioritisation of definite groups of group up of others

The Scottish Vaccine Injury Group (SVIG), which represents 750 people, said it had concerns that nan vaccine had been rolled retired excessively quickly and that information had been sacrificed for speed.

It besides raised superior concerns astir nan government's vaccine harm costs scheme.

Ruth O'Rafferty, from nan SVIG, said it was "a traumatic experience" for anyone applying.

Being 60% abnormal is simply a criteria for nan award. She questioned really anyone could beryllium that erstwhile their information fluctuates. She besides said galore of their members had suffered neurological harm and struggled to capable retired forms.

The enquiry will perceive grounds complete nan adjacent 3 weeks connected this issue, successful London.