Gareth Eve and his family were on the brink of giving up their legal battle with pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca after receiving notice that they might lose their case. The loss of his wife Lisa Shaw, who passed away after receiving the company’s Covid-19 vaccine, had turned his life upside down. The family decided to sue for compensation, but their request was met with uncertainty as the Supreme Court indicated that it may not be approved due to warnings issued by the company regarding rare side effects of the vaccine.
Legal experts believe that these warnings could protect the company from accusations by families affected by the vaccine. Many families have made similar decisions to pursue legal action, and currently 12 lawsuits have been withdrawn while more than 50 people are continuing the fight against AstraZeneca. Mr. Eve expressed frustration with the situation, feeling that the company was evading responsibility by citing warnings included in their information leaflets. He believed that these warnings were not easily understood by the general public, raising concerns about transparency and accountability.
The government has launched a Vaccine Injury Payment Scheme which compensates victims up to £120,000, but Mr. Eve believes this amount is insufficient and calls on ministers and pharmaceutical companies to engage in dialogue with affected families. He believes they have a moral responsibility to support those who have experienced negative effects from the vaccine.
Despite legal challenges, independent studies have shown that AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine is effective in combatting the pandemic and has saved millions of lives globally. The World Health Organization has deemed it safe and effective for individuals aged 18 years and older, with rare dangerous side effects being noted but very rare.
The first lawsuit related to this incident was filed by Jamie Scott who suffered permanent brain damage due to blood clots and brain hemorrhage after receiving the vaccine in April 2021. His wife has vowed to continue fighting for justice for families affected by this vaccine tragedy.
Recently, AstraZeneca announced worldwide recall of its Covid-19 vaccine due to decreased demand as new generation vaccines became available. The company voluntarily withdrew its marketing license for this product in European market signaling a shift in approach towards addressing safety concerns raised by various stakeholders.
