Michael

I was coerced by my employer to have the COVID vaccine. I didn’t want it and I told them so in no uncertain terms. I provided them with paperwork documenting my rights and pointed out that if anything was to happen to me as a result of their mandating vaccination, they would be accountable. My employer arranged the appointment for the 17th November 2021. I told the person administering the vaccination that I was here under duress and coercion and that based on the research I had undertaken, I preferred to have the Astra-Zeneca vaccine.

Five days after the vaccination I started getting palpitations and sweats and I lost my appetite. On the fifth day of symptoms (27th November) I went to the Royal Melbourne Hospital and was admitted overnight. The following day they discharged me even though I had atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter and also COVID-19. I was to go home and isolate. 

I wasn’t worried about the COVID infection but was worried about my heart. For the next two days my heart was going berserk and I ended up calling the ambulance. My heart rate

in the ambulance was between 140bpm and 190bpm and they stated I was supraventricular tachycardic (SVT). They called an intensive care backup, but they were too far away so took me to St Vincent’s hospital where I was for admitted 10 days in the COVID ward. 

I was prescribed metoprolol (a beta blocker) plus ceftriaxone (used to treat bacterial infections) which they gave me at night. This bought on fevers and vomiting after taking it. I knew I was having a reaction to this medication but no-one believed me. It wasn’t until a nurse on shift on the fourth day believed me and took me off it right away. I was then put on a nasal prong humidifier which delivers humidified oxygen into the lungs. It felt like it was drowning me and I wasn’t improving, I was on it for 20 hours before they agreed to remove it.

A doctor approached me after this and said, “We need to be careful what we say to you don’t we?” I asked her why she had thought that. She had picked up that I knew the medical terminology (from my training). It was then they gave me steroids and Ivermectin and I started improving within four hours. Once my blood sugar levels were in normal range, they sent me home.

On the 23rd December 2021 I called an ambulance because my heart going berserk again. The Critical Care team delivered me back to St Vincent’s Hospital. I was given fentanyl and then monitored for nine hours in Emergency. Prior to discharge I was advised to double my dose of metoprolol.

On the 11th January I was driving and had to pull over as I was experiencing crushing chest pain. I called the ambulance again and ended up spending 12 hours in Box Hill Hospital.  They changed my medication to sotalol as the metoprolol wasn’t working.

My fifth admission was on 1st April when I was sent to the Northern Hospital, this time for monitoring. A few days prior, my GP had also prescribed me ramipril blood pressure medication. On each hospital admission, they’ve just given me fluids, monitored me with the ECG, then sent me home. I have up and down days with my ‘episodes’ lasting anywhere from five minutes to eight hours.

I’m having another echocardiogram, wearing a Holter monitor and a 24 hour blood pressure monitor in the coming weeks prior to seeing a cardiologist. I’ve been advised I may have to have a catheter ablation to restart the electrics in my heart. So it’s not over yet unfortunately.

I have since had a successful WorkCover claim, meaning I have been back paid my wages and will continue to be paid for as long as I’m unable to work. I’m sharing this information to hopefully assist anyone else to claim for their injury.

I did Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to obtain all my documentation to support my claim. This included FOIs to Ambulance Victoria for each ambulance trip, for my medical records at each hospital I went to and doctor ED reports for each admission. 

Through the work insurance company, I was sent to an Associate Professor in Cardiology who was great and confirmed in his report that my injury was associated with the vaccine. I also arranged for an affidavit from someone I know confirming I had no previous cardiac issues for the time they’d known me. I also obtained a similar statutory declaration from a colleague. 

For anyone who is making a WorkCover claim, make sure you have everything documented in writing, and be sure to understand your rights. My employer has mandated the booster for my role and they’re now looking at mandating the 4th vaccination (as my role comes under emergency services). My second employer terminated my employment so I’ve been in contact with a lawyer to pursue that matter further.

I have been outspoken about the injustice of what has happened to me and about our rights and the mandates. I have been interviewed by @Cafelockedout and Anthony Burge and spoken at some events over the last few months. It’s been so humbling to experience the kindness and support I’ve received from strangers over these last few months, I feel really grateful.