"High School Freshman Paralyzed in Leg After Pfizer Shot... Quarantine Pass Is Irresponsible," 청원 to Blue House

"Believed Government Promises... Should Victims Bear All Responsibility for Damages?"

A petition stating that a child experienced leg paralysis after receiving the Pfizer vaccine has been posted. / Photo by Cheongwadae National Petition Board capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Seohyun] A petition has been posted claiming that a high school student experienced leg paralysis symptoms after receiving the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

On the 22nd, a petition titled "Leg paralysis after Pfizer vaccine for a first-year high school student! The dilemma of the 3rd dose" was posted on the Blue House National Petition Board.

The petitioner, who introduced themselves as a parent of a first-year high school student, began by saying, "My child completed vaccination as soon as the adolescent vaccination program started. The first dose was on October 21, and the second dose was on November 11."

They continued, "I trusted the government's promise that the vaccine is safe, side effects are minimal, and they would take full responsibility. But the cost was too great."

They explained, "After the first dose, there were no particular symptoms, but after the second dose, my child experienced a high fever over 38 degrees Celsius, nausea, and dizziness. Six days after vaccination, sudden leg paralysis occurred, and my child fell multiple times inside the house because they could not walk," adding, "We went to the emergency room at a nearby hospital and were diagnosed with peroneal nerve palsy."

They added, "When I asked if it could have been caused by the foot getting caught or pressed between the bed, I was told that there was no place where the foot could have been caught, and since my child usually sleeps straight, it was unlikely the foot was pressed, so I asked if it could be a vaccine side effect. The medical staff said it was possible that it was an adverse reaction to the vaccine. Since there was no treatment method at the time, they only said to have an electromyography test again after two weeks, and we left the hospital."

They continued, "Around midnight, the leg paralysis symptoms spread up to above the calf, and we were admitted to the emergency room of a university hospital in Seoul," explaining, "We conducted all tests including lumbar and calf MRI, electromyography, blood tests, and a difficult spinal cord test, but all results were normal. They said it could be an immune system disorder, so my child received four rounds of immunoglobulin injections."

They added, "Each time my child received the injections, they had to endure high fever, vomiting, severe headaches, skin hives, and itching," and lamented, "It was very painful and upsetting for me to watch, but I could not show it in front of my child and had to swallow my tears alone."

They continued, "The hospital judged that there was a problem with the immune system and said they could not rule out the possibility of an adverse reaction to the vaccine. Is it a coincidence that a healthy child suddenly developed leg paralysis right after vaccination?" They expressed frustration, saying, "No one informed us that leg paralysis could occur in healthy adolescents without underlying conditions due to the vaccine."

They said, "Even though the government promised to take responsibility if any abnormalities occurred, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency was unreachable by phone. The public health center was not even aware of neurological cases and could only tell us to visit the hospital, offering no other help," raising their voice, "Is this fulfilling their responsibility? It is hurting the victims twice."

They added, "My child is undergoing rehabilitation with only vague hope of recovery, without any guarantee of full recovery," and said, "Why should a 17-year-old suffer like this? I am left with only regret and sorrow, wishing my child had not been vaccinated."

The petitioner also expressed discomfort about the third dose. They said, "My child is still waiting for the nerves to recover, but seeing news telling us to get the third dose makes me angry and anxious. The vaccine pass is frustrating and worrying, and my heart is troubled," emphasizing, "They want us to get this vaccine again, which has no guaranteed safety and unknown number of doses. Who can guarantee that next time it won't be something worse than leg paralysis?"

They continued, "What kind of irresponsible coercion is this, calling it a vaccine pass? Deaths from vaccines and cases like leg paralysis in teenagers?are these just bad luck?" They appealed, "Should the victims bear all responsibility for the damages? Can it be said that the vaccine is safe just because these adverse effects are rare?"