In 2020, Brianne Dressen made a profound decision, enrolling in a clinical trial for AstraZeneca’s Covid vaccine with the hope of aiding the pharmaceutical company in developing a shot that could potentially end the global pandemic.
As one of the initial participants in the trial, she received the experimental Covid vaccine, feeling a sense of pride in doing her part for public health and believing in the safety of the vaccine.
However, her optimism quickly turned into despair when she experienced a devastating reaction just one hour after her first dose; she claims this reaction has left her nearly completely disabled and plunged her into months of intense suffering and suicidal thoughts as a means to escape the relentless pain.
The physical torment she endures is overwhelming — a constant sensation of her body vibrating as if undergoing electrocution — and has led to her being shunned by many friends and family who now label her as an anti-vaxxer. The severe pain has also rendered her incapable of adequately caring for her two children, aged 10 and 12.
In an interview with DailyMail.com, the 43-year-old mother expressed, ‘The pain is something that I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. This is the first thing I feel when I wake up in the morning and the last thing I feel when I go to sleep at night.’
‘My body feels like it is being electrocuted all the time, like this jarring sharp electrical sensation that moves throughout my body, from head to toe, and down to my fingers.’
‘There is no peace, no rest, no reprieve; the only time I get a break is when I take a whole lot of meds that allow me to sleep for a few hours — but I know that when I do this, I am borrowing time from my future.’
In 2021, medical professionals at the National Institutes of Health diagnosed Ms. Dressen with post-vaccine neuropathy, a rare and debilitating condition characterized by tingling, numbness, and weakness following a vaccination.
Brianne Dressen, 42, is suing AstraZeneca after taking part in their Covid vaccine trial. She claims their shot has left her ‘permanently disabled.’
Ms. Dressen is suing for breach of contract, alleging the company has failed to cover her astronomical medical bills following her severe neurological reaction to the vaccine.
The painful condition may arise when proteins on certain viruses bear similarities to nerve cell proteins, causing the immune system to misfire and unjustly attack the nervous system.
Originating from Utah, Ms. Dressen found herself bedridden for months due to the unbearable pain, leading to a complete loss of mobility in her legs.
Though she can now move again with the aid of medication, she continues to experience intense pain and is unable to feel anything in her legs.
Before her adverse reaction, Ms. Dressen staunchly believed in vaccines and was actively involved in her community, organizing efforts to provide face masks for local hospitals; she had also learned of two friends participating in clinical trials who reported no adverse effects.
In her participation in the AstraZeneca trial, Ms. Dressen signed a consent form that expressly stated the company would provide financial support if she experienced a serious side effect from the vaccine.
However, DailyMail.com has not verified the contents of this consent form or her claims.
To date, Ms. Dressen asserts that AstraZeneca has only provided her with $590, a negligible amount compared to the staggering annual cost of up to $400,000 she incurs for her ongoing medical care.
In May, she initiated a lawsuit against AstraZeneca for breach of contract; the case is currently progressing through the court system in Utah.
Ms. Dressen has stated that she has become a shadow of her former self, struggling to care for her children, unable to work, and limited to driving just a few blocks.
Ms. Dressen is seen with her two children.
As Covid vaccines have been credited with preventing over 3.2 million deaths and 18.5 million hospitalizations in the U.S., AstraZeneca’s vaccine was never approved in the country due to concerns regarding rare blood clot occurrences. However, it received approval in Europe.
Since then, thousands have come forward believing that they have sustained serious injuries as a result of Covid vaccinations, fundamentally altering their lives.
The Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program (CICP), designed by the U.S. government to assist individuals claiming vaccine injuries, has received over 14,000 applications to date.
The consequences of these vaccine-related injuries extend beyond physical ailments; they also take a significant emotional toll. A survey by the UK CV Family, representing those who believe they have been injured by Covid vaccines, revealed that 73 percent of respondents had contemplated suicide due to their injuries.
Additionally, many individuals asserting that they have suffered vaccine-related injuries report feeling shunned by family and friends, burdened by the stigma attached to discussing such experiences.
Ms. Dressen is depicted in a hospital bed following her life-altering reaction to the vaccine.
The onset of Ms. Dressen’s struggle began within just an hour of receiving the vaccine on November 4, 2020, with a tingling sensation resembling pinpricks radiating from her injected arm.
This sensation escalated and spread throughout her body, compelling her to visit the emergency room four times in the months that followed, yet doctors were uncertain how to treat her, as the vaccine remained under trial.
During this time, she opened up about her desperation, revealing a dark descent into suicidal thoughts as she sought relief from the unending agony.
She explained, ‘It wasn’t like a small moment in time that I wanted to end my life; it was over several months.’
‘It wasn’t that I was pacing around the house saying, “I am going to die”; I was silently immobile, just fantasizing about an escape from my relentless suffering.’
‘It is not that individuals affected by these vaccine injuries wish to die; we simply yearn for a reprieve.’
AstraZeneca has thus far declined to accept any responsibility for the injuries Ms. Dressen has suffered.
Following a recent court hearing concerning her case, Ms. Dressen indicated that she has learned ‘everything I needed to know about this company,’ highlighting a lack of concern from AstraZeneca regarding her plight.
Ms. Dressen speaks about her experiences at a court hearing.
She remarked, ‘There is no interest there whatsoever to help me. They are going to fight this every step of the way and… they called my lawyers and said they would appeal the initial decision.’
‘My medications cost about $180,000 to $400,000 a year, we had to re-mortgage our home; I can no longer work, and what used to be our income has been replaced by an overwhelming amount of medical bills — it has transformed our quality of life dramatically.’
A spokesperson for AstraZeneca did not respond to DailyMail.com’s request for comment.
In a forthcoming interview, Ms. Dressen shared details about her journey and the release of her book titled: ‘Worth a Shot?: Secrets of the Clinical Trial Participant Who Inspired a Global Movement.
All proceeds from the book will be donated to React19 and UKCVFamily.
Can you explain the impact of post-vaccine neuropathy on Brianne Dressen’s daily life and her journey towards legal action against AstraZeneca?
**Interview with Brianne Dressen: A Journey of Hope, Pain, and Legal Battle**
*Editor’s Note: In a recent interview, Brianne Dressen, a participant in a clinical trial for AstraZeneca’s Covid vaccine, shares her harrowing experience following an adverse reaction that has changed her life forever.*
**Editor:** Brianne, thank you for joining us today. You enrolled in the AstraZeneca vaccine trial with hopes of helping others during a global crisis. Can you tell us what motivated you to participate?
**Brianne Dressen:** Absolutely. Like so many others, I wanted to do my part in ending the pandemic. I had faith in vaccines and believed in their safety. I thought by participating, I could help move us closer to normalcy. It was a proud moment for me.
**Editor:** That optimism must have been overwhelming. However, it quickly turned into a nightmare for you. Could you share what happened after you received the vaccine?
**Brianne Dressen:** Yes, just one hour after my first dose, I began to feel an intense pain and a bizarre sensation, almost like I was being electrocuted. It escalated to a point where I was bedridden and unable to care for my two children. The physical pain has been relentless, and it has left me nearly completely disabled.
**Editor:** That sounds incredibly challenging. You mentioned experiencing suicidal thoughts due to the pain. Can you expand on that?
**Brianne Dressen:** It’s hard to describe the depth of despair. The pain is unbearable; it’s the first thing I feel in the morning and the last at night. For months, I felt trapped in my body, longing for an escape. It wasn’t a fleeting thought; it was a constant shadow over my existence.
**Editor:** You’ve been diagnosed with post-vaccine neuropathy. What does that mean for you on a daily basis?
**Brianne Dressen:** It means living in a constant state of discomfort. I experience tingling, numbness, and weakness. Even though I can move again with medication, I still feel the intense pain and can’t feel anything in my legs. It affects every aspect of my life, and I’ve struggled to maintain a sense of normalcy for my children.
**Editor:** You are currently suing AstraZeneca for breach of contract. What led to that decision?
**Brianne Dressen:** After my reaction, I was told I would be supported financially for medical expenses. However, AstraZeneca has only provided me with a fraction of what’s necessary. The mounting medical bills, which can reach up to $400,000 annually, have led me to this legal battle.
**Editor:** With the stigma surrounding vaccine injuries, how have your personal relationships changed since your adverse reaction?
**Brianne Dressen:** It’s been heartbreaking. Friends and family have distanced themselves from me, labeling me an anti-vaxxer, which couldn’t be further from the truth. I believed in vaccines wholeheartedly until my own experience. It’s incredibly isolating to navigate.
**Editor:** Your story underscores the broader implications of vaccine-related injuries. What message do you want to convey to others who might be facing similar struggles?
**Brianne Dressen:** I want them to know they’re not alone. There are many of us who are suffering in silence. It’s crucial that we have conversations about the realities and complexities of vaccine reactions, so those of us affected can receive the understanding and support we desperately need.
**Editor:** Thank you for sharing your story, Brianne. It’s a powerful reminder of the importance of looking at all sides of vaccine safety and the need for compassion towards those affected.
**Brianne Dressen:** Thank you for giving me this platform. It’s important to advocate for ourselves and others who’ve faced similar challenges. We must keep the conversation going.