A family whose 21-year-old son developed a life-threatening reaction to Pfizer’s COVID vaccine has been waiting six months to learn if the U.S. government’s Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program (CICP) will help cover their son’s medical bills.
The family of Kartik Bhakta in August 2021 submitted a claim on behalf of their son. So far, the claim has been ignored.
The CICP program, which operates under the federal Health Resources and Services Administration, provides compensation for serious injuries or death caused by certain medications, medical devices and vaccines, including COVID vaccines.
Bhakta, a second-year pre-med student described as a “genius” by his father, was severely injured after his first Pfizer shot.
READ ALSO: Pfizer admits COVID vaccinated persons face high risks of ‘untimely’ death
According to hospital records, Bhakta suffered from an extremely rare life-threatening adverse reaction to the vaccine.
Within two hours of his first dose, Bhakta experienced nausea and vomiting. He then developed back pain, a severe rash, tinnitus, eye problems, kidney failure, deafness and neuropathy. He spent three months in the hospital.
The day before getting vaccinated, Bhakta was healthy and had no medical conditions, his father said. The doctors said the neuropathy could be caused by steroids given to him for treatment, but they attribute the other conditions to the vaccine.
“We need some kind of help and direction from somewhere so that way he can get medical assistance or whatever he needs,” Bhakta’s father said.
In addition to a lengthy hospitalization, Bhakta underwent numerous surgeries, couldn’t walk without a walker and had to put his schooling on hold.
His family relocated to Texas in 2021 to be closer to the medical services their son needed, as the school’s insurance program stopped covering Bhakta’s medical bills in August.
His family does not have coverage for the additional eye surgeries their son needs and cannot work due to his medical appointments and need for care.
READ ALSO: COVID vaccine risk to human life can’t be ruled out, experts reveal
Asked what the family would do if denied assistance, Bhakta’s father replied, “I don’t know. Then why is the government forcing us to take a vaccine if they’re not taking responsibility?”
Since the CICP launched in 2010, 7,033 claims have been filed, but only 29 claims have been compensated.
There are about 300 claims pending with the CICP for injuries or deaths due to COVID vaccines. As of Feb. 1, the CICP had approved only one claim, but that claim has not been paid out.
Countries like Japan and France have already added COVID vaccines to their equivalent courts, and those injured receive compensation “pretty quickly,” according to Greenwood.
Italy plans to set aside 150 million euros ($169.91 million) to compensate those injured by COVID vaccines, according to a draft decree shown to Reuters. About 50 million euros in 2022 and an additional 100 million in 2023 will be reserved for those permanently disabled by the COVID vaccines recommended by Italy’s health authority.
Culled from The Defender