A Barbadian woman has filed a lawsuit against her country's government, alleging she suffered serious and ongoing health complications after receiving two doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in 2021. According to Antigua News Room, the claim names the Office of the Attorney General as defendant, with the woman asserting that the Health and Wellness Ministry bears liability for injuries she sustained.
The claimant is represented by constitutional attorney and King's Counsel Larry Smith. She alleges the vaccine administered to her was "defective" and that the Government failed to deliver a product that was as safe as she was entitled to expect under the Consumer Protection Act.
Court documents indicate the woman received her first vaccine dose on or about April 23, 2021, and her second dose in June of that year. Approximately two months later, she developed a "swollen bruise" accompanied by "severe pain" below her right knee.
She subsequently sought medical attention on two occasions after experiencing additional symptoms, including severe chest pain and shortness of breath, as reported by Antigua News Room, citing online publication Barbados TODAY, which stated it had reviewed a copy of the court document.
On both visits, the attending physician was unable to determine the cause of her condition. Her symptoms reportedly worsened over time, with bruising spreading across her body, along with severe shortness of breath and declining energy levels. She was eventually referred to a specialist for haematology assessments and testing.
The pharmacovigilance team of the Barbados Drug Service conducted assessments into what was described as "a suspected drug-induced reaction post vaccination of the COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine," linked to the batch from her final dose. Blood samples were collected and tested at the Barbados Reference Laboratory, with results indicating the woman was experiencing vaccine-induced blood clotting side effects.
A final medical assessment described her condition as "a suspected case of vasculitis following the administration of the COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine on June 25, 2021."
The woman alleges she wrote five letters to the defendant between January 24, 2022 and July 7, 2023, raising concerns about the Government's liability. The claim states that no substantive reply was received. In early February 2022, she received an email from the Prime Minister's Office acknowledging her January letter and advising that it had been forwarded to the chief medical officer for "attention and follow-up action."
A pre-action letter was subsequently sent to the chief medical officer seeking compensation. The lawsuit alleges negligence on the part of the Government, including failure to provide support mechanisms for individuals who suffered severe complications under the Barbados COVID-19 Vaccination Programme, and failure to respond to the claimant despite having sufficient knowledge of her condition.
The woman is seeking general damages for pain, suffering and loss of amenities, special damages including loss of earnings, legal costs, interest at six per cent per annum, and any other relief the court deems appropriate.
