A Barbados woman has filed a lawsuit against the Government, claiming she suffered serious health complications after receiving two doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in 2021.

According to court documents, the woman received her first dose in April 2021 and a second dose in June. She alleges that within months of her vaccination, she developed severe symptoms including bruising, pain below her right knee, chest pain, shortness of breath, and low energy levels. Medical consultations reportedly failed to immediately identify the cause of her condition.

The claim states that further assessments were carried out by the Barbados Drug Service’s pharmacovigilance team, which investigated what was described as a suspected vaccine-related reaction. Blood tests and medical evaluations reportedly indicated vaccine-induced blood clotting side effects. A final assessment referred to her condition as a suspected case of vasculitis following administration of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Represented by King’s Counsel Larry Smith, the woman argues that the vaccine was defective and that the Government failed to provide a product that met reasonable safety expectations under the Consumer Protection Act. The lawsuit also alleges negligence, including a failure to establish support mechanisms for people who experienced severe vaccine complications and a failure to adequately respond to concerns she raised through multiple letters sent between 2022 and 2023.

Court documents indicate that while the Prime Minister’s Office acknowledged receipt of one of her letters and referred the matter to the Chief Medical Officer, the woman claims she never received a substantive response regarding her concerns or requests for compensation.

The lawsuit names the Office of the Attorney General as the defendant. The woman is seeking general damages for pain and suffering, compensation for loss of earnings, legal costs, interest, and any additional relief the court considers appropriate. The matter is expected to be determined through the courts.