Man with brain damage launches legal appeal against COVID vaccine provider

A man who suffered a severe brain injury after receiving the AstraZeneca COVID vaccine is launching a legal appeal.

Father-of-two Jamie Scott claims he suffered a blood clot which left him with permanent brain damage after receiving the vaccination in April 2021.

According to reports, he suffered a blood clot which left him with permanent brain damage and he is unable to unable to work because of his condition. The action is being taken under the Consumer Protection Act after his lawyers alleged the vaccine was ‘defective’ as it was ‘less safe’ than individuals were entitled to expect.

Scott’s lawyers say that the drug company overstated its efficacy, and argue that he suffered “personal injuries and consequential losses arising out of his sustaining vaccine-induced immune thrombosis with thrombocytopenia (VITT).”

VITT is a rare blood clot side effect that was linked to the vaccine, which was developed by AstraZeneca in partnership with the University of Oxford. However, other studies suggest that the COVID-19 vaccines have saved millions of lives.

Scott received the vaccine on April 7, 2021 – 16 days after the Joint Committee on Immunisation and Vaccination said that adults under 30 should be offered an alternative to the AstraZeneca jab because of the risk of clots. The following month this was amended to adults under 40. However, Scott was 44 when he received the inoculation.

According to The Times, Scott’s lawyers have argued that no warning of the risk of VITT was included in the product information on the date of supply of the vaccine. They have also questioned how the efficacy of the vaccine was described by AstraZeneca.

The BBC reports that legal action for Scott’s case is at least a year away from a full court hearing. However, another claim from about 80 people who say they were injured by the AstraZeneca vaccine is also due to be launched later this year but Mr Scott’s case is expected to be heard first.

What has AstraZeneca said? 

“Patient safety is our highest priority and regulatory authorities have clear and stringent standards to ensure the safe use of all medicines, including vaccines.

“Our sympathy goes out to anyone who has lost loved ones or reported health problems.

“From the body of evidence in clinical trials and real-world data, Vaxzevria [the vaccine against Covid] has continuously been shown to have an acceptable safety profile and regulators around the world consistently state that the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks of extremely rare potential side effects.”

Meanwhile, in June 2022, the World Health Organization said the AstraZeneca vaccine was “safe and effective for individuals aged 18 and above”.

Covid-vaccine claims

If you have been left severely disabled as a result of a vaccination against certain diseases, like Covid, you could get a one-off tax-free payment of £120,000. This is called a Vaccine Damage Payment.

You can also apply for this payment on behalf of someone who has died after becoming severely disabled because of certain vaccinations. You need to be managing their estate to apply.

By using a solicitor to put your claim forward, you have a higher chance of success. The team at Oakwood Solicitors will ensure that there are no technical grounds for turning down your claim and will put you in the best possible position to receive what you are owed.

Oakwood Solicitors operates on a guaranteed No-Win, No-Fee, so you will only pay us if your claim is successful.

Related reading

Prescription or medication errors – Oakwood Solicitors

WHAT TO DO NEXT

Get in touch today for a no-obligation consultation. Choose one of the methods on the right-hand side of this page, or call us on 0113 200 9720 to find out how we can help you.