"Father Diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis After AZ Vaccine... Paralyzed from Waist Down" Angry Cheong Wa Dae Petition

"Got vaccinated because I was told to... Please compensate as soon as possible"

Medical staff at a public health center in Seoul are filling syringes with the AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. Photo by Asia Economy DB.

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Amid ongoing petitions complaining about side effects of COVID-19 vaccines, a new petition has been posted demanding compensation after a father became paralyzed in the lower body following AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine administration.

On the 11th, a petition titled "Diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis Due to COVID Vaccine Side Effects" was posted on the Blue House National Petition Board.

The petitioner, Mr. A, began by saying, "My father, who received the second dose of the AZ vaccine on August 12, was diagnosed with transverse myelitis and is now paralyzed from the neck down except for his face and hands, unable to move."

According to Mr. A, his father experienced complex symptoms such as chills, vomiting, loss of appetite, fever, abdominal pain, and diarrhea from the day he received the second vaccine dose and went to the hospital. Although he took medication prescribed by the hospital, his condition did not improve, and he eventually visited the emergency room where he received an IV drip before being discharged.

Mr. A said, "My father kept sleeping. When he briefly sat up after waking, he couldn’t control his body and would collapse sideways. Then he said he was tired and went back to sleep. Later, when he woke up again, he couldn’t recognize people or his surroundings, asking where he was, showing no awareness of people, place, or time, and his pupils were dilated. We rushed him to the hospital and were told he had sepsis," he lamented.

He continued, "The hospital said it would have been a serious problem if we had delayed even a day or two. After being diagnosed with sepsis and receiving prompt treatment, his symptoms improved, but suddenly he lost sensation in his legs, experienced numbness in his hands, and complained of frequent headaches. Initial tests suggested meningitis, but now he has been diagnosed with transverse myelitis causing paralysis of both upper and lower body," he expressed his frustration.

He added, "He was hospitalized on August 25 and discharged on September 15, then immediately admitted to a rehabilitation hospital to undergo rehabilitation therapy," and "So far, we have paid nearly 10 million won in hospital bills, treatment costs, and caregiver fees," he revealed.

He further stated, "We got vaccinated because we were told to, but due to side effects, my father suddenly became severely disabled, yet we have received no compensation and only empty promises. Do we really have to just wait helplessly like this?" and "We, ordinary people, are financially drained. Please stop questioning causality and compensate quickly since a previously healthy person ended up like this," he pleaded.

Additionally, he said, "My mother sheds endless tears every day worrying about hospital and treatment expenses. I’m afraid she might make a wrong decision out of despair. Please don’t overlook this reality where even we, her unworthy children, cannot help," he appealed.

Previously, a female firefighter in her 20s, Ms. B, was diagnosed with acute transverse myelitis after receiving the AZ vaccine.

Ms. B was classified as an essential social worker and received the AZ vaccine on March 12. After experiencing high fever and headaches, she developed skin eruptions on her face and body and muscle spasms starting March 15, and was treated at a general hospital in Gwangju. However, her symptoms did not improve, and upon visiting another hospital, she was diagnosed with acute transverse myelitis due to abnormalities in the central nervous system.

Meanwhile, among 3,416 suspected adverse reaction cases evaluated by the COVID-19 Vaccination Damage Investigation Team as of the 5th, 477 cases were recognized as causally related. Among these, there were 2 deaths due to thrombocytopenic thrombosis and acute myocarditis, 5 severe illnesses, and 470 cases of anaphylaxis. Additionally, there were a total of 2,213 reports of 'abnormal uterine bleeding' among other symptoms of interest.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.