Nurse denied vaccine injury compensation despite lasting spinal damage

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 16 Oct, 10:58 · Archive

A nurse who developed spinal cord inflammation after taking the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine in a trial has been denied Government compensation.

Marie-Claire Hoyle, a 44-year-old NHS nurse, volunteered for the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine trial in 2020. Two weeks after receiving her second dose in August 2020, she developed transverse myelitis, a rare neurological condition that causes inflammation of the spinal cord. The condition left her unable to use her hands properly, caused extensive numbness from her collarbone to her thigh, and triggered severe pain. A world-wide shutdown of the trial followed.

Although Mrs Hoyle has since recovered much of her mobility, she continues to experience nerve pain, weakness and lasting sensory problems. An MRI scan found her spinal cord remains damaged and will not fully heal. She still suffers from numbness across her chest and nerve pain down her arm.

Mrs Hoyle applied to the Government's Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme, which provides a one-off payment of £120,000 to people who can demonstrate a vaccination caused their injury and their disability meets the qualifying threshold. Authorities accepted that the vaccine caused her transverse myelitis based on her medical records, but rejected her claim on the grounds she was no longer considered at least 60 per cent disabled. She is now calling for reform of the state compensation system. Baroness Hallett's Covid-19 Inquiry also published calls for such reform in April.

How it is being reported

• Covid vaccine victim who lost the use of her hands after AstraZeneca jab was 'not disabled enough' for compensationMarie-Claire Hoyle volunteered to take part in the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine trial in 2020 but just two weeks after her second jab, she developed a debilitating neurological condition.Daily Mail · 16 Oct, 10:41
• Nurse who was struck down by rare condition linked to Covid vaccine 'not disable enough' for compensationA nurse who suffered permanent spinal cord damage after taking part in the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine trial has been denied Government compensation, as her condition "no longer meets the required disability threshold". Marie-Claire Hoyle, 44, developed transverse myelitis, a rare neurological condition that causes inflammation of the spinal cord, just two weeks after receiving her second dose of the vaccine in August 2020. The illness left her unable to use her hands properly, caused extensive numbness and triggered severe pain. Although she has since recovered much of her mobility…GB News · 16 Oct, 10:27

In this story: Marie-Claire Hoyle · Oxford-AstraZeneca · Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme · Baroness Hallett

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