In a new development regarding AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine, an American woman who participated in the vaccine's clinical trial has filed a lawsuit against the company, claiming it has left her "permanently disabled." Former teacher Brianne Driesen, 42, filed the suit against AstraZeneca for breach of contract, alleging the company failed to provide medical care for vaccine-related side effects after she experienced a severe neurological condition following her participation in the vaccine trial in 2020.
Driesen stated in court yesterday that she signed an agreement with the company, wherein they promised to "cover the medical costs for research injuries, provided that the costs are reasonable and do not result from self-harm," according to a report by the British newspaper "Telegraph." She also noted that the company did not cover the medical costs when she experienced a sensation similar to pins and needles throughout her body shortly after receiving the vaccine in November 2020.
She reported being unable to work after being diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy, a condition that causes numbness and pain due to nerve damage, with her case classified as "vaccine-related neuropathy" due to its association with the injection. Driesen revealed that the condition forced her to leave her job, and she remains permanently disabled, experiencing a constant sensation of pins and needles coursing through her body 24/7.
After being hospitalized multiple times post-vaccination, she said her medical bills totaled thousands of dollars, and she declined to pay a small amount that could limit her liability in any lawsuit. The lawsuit she filed is believed to be the first of its kind in the United States, where the British-made vaccine was tested in clinical trials but has never been approved for use.
Meanwhile, over 50 individuals have filed a class-action lawsuit against the company in the UK, a case that could result in multi-million-pound compensation. Last week, AstraZeneca requested the European Union to withdraw the vaccine's authorization in member states.
Utah law, where Driesen resides, allows complainants suing for breach of contract to claim costs arising from the violation and damages, which could lead to significant compensation for her if the court rules in her favor. It is worth noting that there is documented evidence linking the AstraZeneca vaccine to neurological cases such as peripheral neuropathy in rare instances among vaccinated patients. A study published last year in the journal Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports indicated a higher-than-expected occurrence of severe neurological symptoms following various COVID-19 vaccinations, but it concluded that the evidence was not robust enough to recommend withdrawing the vaccine.
