Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Brianne Dressen, a resident of Salt Lake City, led an active lifestyle. She enjoyed rock climbing with her husband, a chemist for the U.S. Army, and was a busy mother to her two children, shuttling them to soccer games and piano lessons. She also worked as a preschool teacher. However, her life took a drastic turn in November 2020 when she participated in an AstraZeneca vaccine trial.
Dressen, a 42-year-old mother, alleges that the experimental vaccine left her with a severe injury that has significantly impacted her life. Due to the federal Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act, she cannot file a product liability lawsuit against AstraZeneca. However, she is pursuing a breach of contract case against the British-Swedish pharmaceutical company.
On Monday, Dressen filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the State of Utah. She alleges that she developed a severe neurological condition due to the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. She also claims that AstraZeneca failed to cover her medical expenses as promised.
Daniel Horowitz, a conservative commentator, expressed shock at the situation. He noted the increasing number of academic and case studies documenting injuries from the vaccine, yet victims often have little legal recourse for compensation. He also pointed out the peculiar situation where AstraZeneca was removed from the market, but mRNA vaccines, which he believes are worse, continue to be funded and promoted by the government.
The Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, developed in collaboration with Oxford University and produced by the Serum Institute of India, was never rolled out in the United States. However, it was administered billions of times worldwide. Despite numerous reports of adverse effects, including abnormal bleeding, low blood platelets, blood clots, and even death, AstraZeneca maintained that there was no evidence of increased risk associated with the vaccine.
Dressen’s lawsuit alleges that AstraZeneca made several written promises to trial participants, including financial reimbursement for clinic visits and compensation for study-related injuries. However, when Dressen began experiencing adverse effects, she claims the company failed to provide the promised support.
Dressen’s condition has reportedly left her unable to work, engage in athletic activities, parent as she used to, or drive more than a few blocks at a time. She told the Telegraph that the most challenging part is that her children, now aged nine and 11, can’t remember the kind of person their mother was before the injury.
Dressen’s lawsuit alleges that AstraZeneca ignored multiple requests for support until finally providing a small sum of $1,243.30, a fraction of the medical bills and lost wages she has incurred. To access this amount, Dressen would have to release AstraZeneca of further responsibility for her care.
A spokeswoman for AstraZeneca declined to comment on the ongoing litigation but emphasized that patient safety is their highest priority. She stated that clinical trials and real-world data have consistently shown the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine to have an acceptable safety profile.