We’ve all heard it probably about a million times already: the vaccine is safe. We hear it from politicians, we hear it from doctors, we hear it in both TV and radio commercials. And now that it’s been officially approved by the FDA, at least in the case of the popular Pfizer double-jab, people are even more willing to believe it.
But does that actually make it so? I would vote no.
Why? Well, there have quite simply been far too many cases of extreme and dangerous, albeit rare, occurrences to develop since the introduction of the vaccine and its many forms.
Take what happened to BBC Radio Newcastle host Lisa Shaw, for instance.
Like most of those working on the frontlines and in constant contact with the outside world, Shaw was heavily encouraged to get the vaccine and as soon as possible. And so, she did, in late April.
However, unlike most, she experienced some rather bizarre and immediate side effects, none of which could be explained by anything other than the vaccine.
According to BBC, Shaw began to experience some severe headaches, several lasting for days on end. After one such experience on May 13, less than a month after her first dose of the vaccine, she was taken by ambulance to the nearest hospital.
Dr. John Holmes of University Hospital of North Durham remembers Shaw describing the headaches as “shooting and stabbing” and being located all across her forehead and behind her eyes. He conducted a multitude of tests, all of which revealed that several blood clots had formed in her brain, clearly a severe problem and one that could be fatal.
According to the BBC, due to the severity of Shaw’s case, she was soon moved to Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary and admitted to their neurology specialist unit. There was administered treatment by Dr. Christopher Johnson.
Johnson recalls Shaw being conscious for the several days after she arrived under his care, helping him decipher her pain range. But on May 16, her symptoms escalated, with pain so severe that Lisa struggled to even speak.
According to the tests conducted and imaging scans, Shaw suffered a brain hemorrhage, which was putting a massive amount of pressure on her brain and head. They had to relieve that pressure and so put her through surgery to remove a part of her skull.
And while she survived the surgery, it seemed to do little good. By May 21, five days later and still not even a month after her first Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID shot, Lisa Shaw was dead.
Now, I understand that a great many are likely skeptical about the vaccine having much, if anything, to do with Shaw’s untimely and painful death. After all, plenty of others have received their first and second jab of the same vaccine and still at least appear to be in the pink of health.
However, the coroner who performed the autopsy on Shaw, Newcastle’s Karen Dilks, says the vaccine and the vaccine alone caused her death.
Dilks told BBC, “Lisa died due to complications of an AstraZeneca Covid vaccination.” She further reported that the vaccine introduced thrombotic thrombocytopenia, a condition that causes the brain to swell and bleed. According to Dilks, the situation is “very rare” but “clearly established” and “clearly” an effect of the vaccine.
Now, as I do not have any medical training to speak of, I certainly can’t argue with Dilks’ results. However, she isn’t the only one around making similar claims when it comes to recently vaccinated patients.
All around the world, “rare” cases of strange deaths are occurring, all within months, weeks, or even days of getting at least one dose of the supposed safe vaccine. Some have suddenly developed myocarditis, others Guillain-Barre Syndrome, and still others anaphylaxis.
What this means is that there are evident risks to getting the vaccine, at least for some. And as such, it should never be pushed on anyone or believed as something that will keep us all safe and immune. After all, current versions aren’t keeping people from getting COVID.
The simple fact is that it’s a deeply personal choice, just like any other health-related decision. If you feel you should get the vaccine, go ahead. I’m not going to tell you that you shouldn’t.
But I’m not going to tell you that you should either, and neither should anyone else. If you should do anything, it’s to know the facts, do your research, and then make an educated decision for yourself based on that.
Can I get an amen?
