Mum’s agony after Covid jab reaction
A Wishaw mum says she’s been left in agony after suffering a severe reaction to her Covid jab.
Leigh King had her first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine on March 12 but is still in pain more than two weeks later.
The 41-year-old, an unpaid carer for her 13-year-old son Aidan, told the Wishaw Press how her body broke out in a burning rash shortly after the jag.
She said: “My skin was so sore and constantly hot. I have never felt pain like this it has been a horrible experience.
“I am a very healthy person and am not on any medication or anything like that. I am not even in a vulnerable category.
“I only got the vaccine as I am an unpaid carer for my son who has autism and mobility issues.
“I haven’t even been able to care for him since I got the vaccine as I am in such pain.”
Leigh was given the vaccine at the Ravenscraig supercentre but said she began to feel adverse side-effects almost immediately.
“It was a horrible feeling,” she said. “Never in my life was I prepared for what I was about to experience.
“To s a y i t ’s b e e n t h e w o r s t time of my life is an absolute understatement.
“I first got the vaccine on March 12 at Ravenscraig and started to feel immediate side-effects.
“The letter they gave me said that if side-effects still occur after 48 hours I should go to hospital.
“I went to Wishaw A&E but was turned away.
“I went back twice more and the last time I was in such pain I could barely walk out the hospital.”
Currently waiting to see a skin specialist, Leigh said the reaction to the vaccine has seriously impaired her ability to look after Aidan.
She said: “Aidan has also found this whole thing difficult.
“He is scared to come near me because of how my skin looks and he struggles to understand what is going on.
“At home is his happy place and I am his best pal, I got this vaccine to care for Aidan but I haven’t even been able to do that.
“This has just been such a tough situation, and has been so physically and mentally draining for the whole family.
“He is seeing a specialist in Glasgow soon and I won’t be able to be there for him. I can’t be there when he needs me most.”
Leigh wants to make clear that she is not against the vaccines but feels that there has been a lack of followup care in her case.
She also feels there are lots of unanswered questions and wants people to be aware of potential sideeffects.
She said: “I feel so let down on every level. I’m now waiting to see a skin specialist as it’s been such an extreme reaction and also need an eye test as my eyes are so dry.
“I wish there was more support for people if this happens to them.”
An NHS spokesperson said: “We are unable to discuss individual patient care and would ask the patient to contact us directly to discuss their concerns.”
A general statement from the NHS says: “The vaccines approved for use in the UK have met strict standards of safety, quality and effectiveness set out by the independent Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
“Any coronavirus vaccine that is approved must go through all the clinical trials and safety checks all other licensed medicines go through. The MHRA follows international standards of safety.
“Other vaccines are being developed. They will only be available on the NHS once they have been thoroughly tested to make sure they are safe and effective.
“So far, millions of people have been given a Covid-19 vaccine and reports of serious side effects, such as allergic reactions, have been very rare. No long-term complications have been reported.”