COVID JAB PROBE
Luke ,20, dies hours after vaccine shot
A heartbroken mum has told how her son died only hours after taking a Covid-19 vaccine.
Tragic Luke Garrett, 20, was excited about being able to “live his life” again after he was offered the Pfizer injection to protect him against coronavirus.
Grieving mum, Tricia, 49, told the Post: “I didn’t want him to get it. It wasn’t even 12 hours after his Covid jag that he died.
“We are devastated.”
A devastated mum has told how her son died less than 12 hours after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.
Tragic Luke Garrett was excited about being able to “live his life” again after he was offered the Pfizer injection to protect him against coronavirus.
But just hours after the jab in his arm, the 20-year-old suffered a fatal seizure – brought on by a sudden spike in his temperature after his whole body was in crippling pain.
In an emotional interview, distraught mum Tricia Garrett, 49, said: “We are all devastated.”
Six weeks on from his tragic death, Tricia is desperate for answers after she frantically tried to revive her son at the family’s home in Tarbolton’s Red Rose Way.
Paramedics rushed to the scene in the early hours of Tuesday, February 9.
Sadly, nothing could be done to save Luke, a former Belmont Academy pupil, who died around 2.30am – just 10 days before his milestone 21st birthday.
Tricia, who stressed she didn’t want to scaremonger, believes her son, who lived with muscular dystrophy since he was six years old, would still be alive had he not received the vaccine that day.
The mum-of-two, who lives at home with her husband Shaun, 49, and 18-year-old daughter Anna, says her family has been left traumatised by Luke’s death.
She told the Post: “I didn’t want him to get it.
“Luke had been shielding for about a year.
“He used to have support workers who came in three times a week, he also had highfunctioning autism and needed support for that but he cancelled it all because he was that scared of Covid.
“He was excited about going to get his Covid jag and being able to get back out into the world and live his life.
“He was booked in for his jab at 3.10pm on February 8, by midnight he was unwell, he died around 2.30am on February 9.
“It wasn’t even 12 hours after his Covid jag that he died.
“His whole body was in horrendous pain, he had a really high temperature; normally with his condition, his legs can end up in pain but this was different.
“Before he died, the arm he got the injection in was really painful.
“He then suffered a seizure, which has never happened before.
“He started to fit and there was foam coming out of his mouth.
And she added: “I was giving him CPR on his chest whilst on the phone to 999.
“The paramedics didn’t have a clue what had caused it, they just tried to give him adrenaline but there was nothing more they could do.”
Following Luke’s death, the Post learned that a probe would take place by vaccine regulators the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
But his family were still awaiting the result of that investigation which they were told would take between four and six weeks.
Tricia and Shaun have been provided updates on the case via their GP, the Ballochmyle practice in Mauchline.
Luke’s death is still being treated as “unexplained”.
Tricia said: “Our son was fit and well, doctors used to say he was one of the better patients they had seen.
And she went on this week: “He would visit a clinic yearly and would have heart checks every six months because muscular dystrophy can affect your heart.
“He was on heart drugs that were just as a preventative measure.
“The post-mortem showed his heart was in a perfect condition.
“He had never had a seizure before.
“When I was telling one of his doctors at a clinic he would attend in Glasgow, I had to explain what had happened, but it was not common with his type of muscular dystrophy.
“When he was given the jag he believed it was going to help him.”
A spokesperson for MHRA said: “As with any serious suspected adverse drug reaction (ADR), reports with a fatal outcome are fully evaluated by the MHRA, including an assessment of post-mortem details if available, to consider whether the vaccine may have caused the event, or whether the event and fatal outcome were likely to be purely coincidental and due to underlying illness.
“The MHRA also continuously monitors the nature of adverse events reported with the COVID-19 vaccines including reports of seizures and convulsions.
“The current evidence does not indicate an association between the COVID-19 vaccines and onset of seizure events in people with or without a prior history of seizure.”
Dr Joy Tomlinson, director of public health at NHS Ayrshire & Arran said: “Our condolences and thoughts are with Luke Garrett’s family.
“NHS Ayrshire & Arran has a duty to protect patient confidentiality.
“Therefore, we are unable to provide further comment on Luke’s care.
“Local GP practices have been supporting the delivery of vaccinations to the over-80s, those shielding and housebound patients living in the community.
“As part of this vaccine programme, Ballochmyle Medical Practice has not stopped the vaccine programme and has continued to deliver vaccines to those eligible patients.
Ans she added this week: “We continue to urge those offered
a vaccination to take up their appointment.
“The benefits of the COVID-19 vaccines outweigh the risks and it continues to be a safe and effective vaccine.”
The Scottish Government has said there is no “causal link” between the Pfizer vaccine and any deaths, although MHRA are responsible for investigating this.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Our thoughts and condolences are with Luke’s family, and all those who have lost a loved one during this dreadful pandemic – what they are going through is unimaginable.
“The vaccines are safe and approved by regulators – including the MHRA – and we encourage all those who are offered to get vaccinated.
“No causal link has been made between the Pfizer vaccine and any fatality in the UK. The MHRA is alerted of all deaths where a patient was recently vaccinated and they will draw their own conclusions.
“It would be inappropriate to comment further on any individual case.”
A spokesperson for Pfizer yesterday (Tuesday) told the Post: “We take adverse event reports very seriously.
“We closely monitor all such events and collect relevant information to share with global regulatory authorities, including the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the UK.
“To date, millions of people have been vaccinated with our vaccine.
“It is important to note that serious adverse events can occur in the population that may be unrelated to the vaccine.
“Our immediate thoughts are with the bereaved family.”
Muscular Dystrophy UK say they have been supporting Luke’s family through their ordeal.
A spokesperson for the charity said this week: “We provide support and guidance to individuals and families living with muscle-wasting conditions, and we are always here for those who have experienced a bereavement.
And they pointed out this week: “We have been working closely with Luke’s family to support them at this difficult time and immediately circulated details with relevant medical professionals and authorities.
Muscular Dystrophy UK has a support line for anyone who has any questions about the COVID-19 vaccination.
If you need help or advice, then the organisation can be reached by freephone on 0800 652 6352 Monday to Friday between 10am and 2pm.
Alternatively you can contact the group by emailing info@ musculardystrophyuk.org
He was excited about going to get his Covid jag and being able to get back out into the world Mum Tricia