Vax Injured Pilot In Canada Becomes First to Receive Compensation

Video Transcript:

more than a year ago, a BC man became partially paralyzed following his COVID-19 vaccine. Now the 40-year-old has become one of the first people in the country to be approved for compensation. But others are still waiting. CTV's Michelle Bernardo has the story. With special braces for his legs, no muscle or nerve movement or activity below my knees at this point. The white man is walking again, though with difficulty and his hands suffering nerve damage have become stronger. Both hands, they're, as you can see, they're, they're curled in. Then I don't have a lot of restraints. That makes obviously doing pretty much everything a challenge. The former pilot and realtor developed a rare neurological disorder called Guillain-Barré syndrome after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine in April of 2021. Recent BCCD data indicates just 10 people in the province have ever been hospitalized with GBS after a COVID vaccine. I had full facial paralysis. I couldn't, I couldn't smile. I couldn't show my teeth or anything like that. I'm just kind of focusing on moving my feet. For white men who was also initially paralyzed from the waist down, physiotherapy became a full-time job as he learned to move again. My world got flipped upside down. He recently received a letter from the federal vaccine injury support program validating his vaccine injury and saying he had been approved for compensation, one of only a handful in the country. It's vindicating. That's kind of the first thought that came to mind. Langley-Shan Maldun who develops serious blood clots after the AstraZeneca vaccine is still waiting for compensation and unable to work. Meanwhile, white men said while he's relieved to be getting funding, the real victory will be seeing small improvements in his health. I've got a long road to go, but I've got a lot of support. And he says he and his family are ready to face whatever challenges are still ahead. Shalburn Oro, CTV News, Vancouver.