Manitoba family launches lawsuit over COVID-19 vaccination
A Manitoba family has launched a lawsuit alleging their 23-year-old son had a stroke days after receiving a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, leaving him legally blind.
Jackson Troy Reimer and his parents are listed as the plaintiffs in a statement of claim filed earlier in March in the Court of King's Bench in Steinbach, the city where the Reimer family lives.
The claim says Reimer, 23 at the time the claim was filed, had been working at Vail Resorts in Whistler, B.C. in March 2021, when he received an email from his employer. The email, according to the claim, recommended employees living in staff housing take the AstraZeneca Vaccine at their first opportunity.
The claim says the email did not provide the warnings associated with the AstraZeneca Vaccine or COVISHIELD.
Reimer went to get the vaccine – either the AstraZeneca Vaccine or COVISHIELD, on March 17, 2021, from the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority at a conference centre in Whistler, the claim says.
Six days later, Reimer started experiencing dizziness, loss of vision and severe headaches, the claim says. He was taken to the Whistler Health Care Centre and then to the Vancouver General Hospital for a CT scan and a neurological assessment.
"The results of the CT scan showed that Jackson experienced an intracerebral haemorrhage, which is also known as a hemorrhagic stroke," the claim says, adding Reimer was transferred to the neurological intensive care unit where he became unresponsive and underwent a craniotomy to stop bleeding in his brain.
"The Plaintiffs claim that the stroke, the craniotomy and all symptoms and damages arising from them were caused as a result of Jackson having been administered the AstraZeneca Vaccine or COVISHIELD," the claim reads.
The claim says Reimer is now legally blind, has memory loss, brain seizures, excessive weight gain, loss of athletic ability, and obsessive-compulsive disorder tendencies, along with several other mental impairments and mental focus and concentration symptoms.
"Jackson's Symptoms continue to be so severe that he is unable to live alone, and requires ongoing assistance with daily activities," the claim reads, adding his symptoms are expected to continue indefinitely.
The statement of claim lists AstraZeneca Canada and Verity Pharmaceuticals (the manufacturer of COVISHIELD), along with Vail Resorts, the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority and the Attorney General of Canada as defendants in the lawsuit.
It claims, among other things, that the defendants negligently represented the safety of the AstraZeneca Vaccine and/or COVISHIELD, and owed a duty of care to accurately inform Reimer of all risks associated with the vaccines.
BENEFITS OUTWEIGH RISK OF 'EXTREMELY RARE POTENTIAL SIDE EFFECTS': ASTRAZENECA CANADA
In a statement to CTV News, a spokesperson for AstraZeneca Canada said, while they cannot comment on ongoing legal matters, AstraZeneca Canada records and assess all reports of potential adverse events associated with the use of Vaxzevria, AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine.
"From the body of evidence in clinical trials and real-world data, Vaxzevria 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," the statement reads, adding Health Canada granted the vaccine for Canada.
It said more than three billion doses have been supplied to more than 180 countries.
"Patient safety is our highest priority and regulatory authorities have clear and stringent standards to ensure the safe use of all medicines, including vaccines," the statement reads. "Our sympathy goes out to anyone who has reported health problems."
Health Canada told CTV News it has recently been made aware of the claim and is reviewing it.
The Vancouver Coastal Health Authority and Vail Resorts had no comment on the claim as it is before the courts.
CTV News has reached out to Verity Pharmaceuticals and is awaiting a response.
The allegations in the statement of claim have not been tested in court. As of Wednesday afternoon, no statements of defence had been filed.
Defendants served in Manitoba have 20 days to file a statement of defence. Those served in Canada or the U.S. have 40 days, while those served outside Canada and the U.S. have 60 days.
You can read the full statement of claim here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
BREAKING Ottawa public school board, 3 Toronto-area school boards launch lawsuit against social media giants
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and three school boards in the Toronto-area have launched legal action against social media giants, accusing them of "disrupting students' fundamental right to education."
Doctors visiting a Gaza hospital are stunned by the war's toll on Palestinian children
An international team of doctors visiting a hospital in central Gaza was prepared for the worst. But the gruesome impact Israel’s war against Hamas is having on Palestinian children still left them stunned.
Crypt near Marilyn Monroe and Hugh Hefner could fetch US$400,000 at auction
A one-space mausoleum crypt in the vicinity of Marilyn Monroe and Hugh Hefner will go on auction Saturday, when it is expected to reach between US$200,000 and $400,000.
This Toronto restaurant is no longer accepting tips. Here's how it's going
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff – tipping is no longer accepted.
A Nigerian woman reviewed some tomato puree online. Now she faces jail
A Nigerian woman who wrote an online review of a can of tomato puree is facing imprisonment after its manufacturer accused her of making a “malicious allegation” that damaged its business.
Premiers not being truthful about carbon tax, Trudeau says while sparks fly in Ottawa
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Conservative premiers across the country are 'not telling the truth' when it comes to the carbon tax. Trudeau's comments came as fresh sparks were flying in Ottawa at a recalled House of Commons committee.
Far North police 'dispatch' polar bear stalking schoolyard
Police and local hunters in an Ontario Far North First Nation community have “dispatched” a polar that was showing abnormal behaviour and treating the area as a hunting ground.
What new auto insurance reforms will mean for Ontarians, if they get introduced
Ontario has among the highest rates for auto insurance premiums in Canada -- just below Alberta and Nova Scotia -- however, the introduction of an insurance reform in the provincial budget could soon lower prices.