The man who confronted the Prime Minister about his injuries from a Covid vaccine claimed he spoke out because he did not want to be a ‘suddenly died’ statistic.
John Watt from Glasgow received three Covid jabs in 2021 – the first two doses followed by a booster.
However, the 38-year-old claims his world ‘crumbled’ after November 3 of that year when his health deteriorated and he was diagnosed with heart problems.
Covid vaccines have been vetted by world-renowned experts and government agencies, who say it is safe and side effects are very rare. False claims on social media say thousands have been killed by the jabs, despite evidence to the contrary.
Vaccines played a crucial role in building the wall of immunity that allowed Britain to turn the pandemic and leave lockdowns and restrictions behind.
He appeared at a ‘people’s forum’ organized by GB News on Monday, where Mr Watt told Mr Sunak to ‘look at the pain, trauma and regret I have in my eyes’
Mr Sunak pointed to the vaccine compensation programme, which provides payouts for those harmed by the jabs
Mr Watt, an ex-joiner and carpenter who says he continues to suffer side effects including problems walking, confronted Rishi Sunak this week and demanded he ‘do the right thing’ and stop payments for those injured by the injection would accelerate.
Questioned about the interaction on GB NewsMr Watt claimed he was speaking about his experiences ‘because I’m not going to be a ‘suddenly died’ statistic’.
Before being vaccinated, Mr Watt said he was ‘fit and healthy’ and regularly did boxing, CrossFit and strength training to keep himself in shape.
A GoFundMe page about Mr Watt’s condition, which has raised £17,000 so far, says he suffered from dizziness, fatigue, increased heart rate and nausea, causing him to lose 15kg (33lbs) in three weeks .
His partner Kerri said he was unable to continue working and that NHS doctors had ‘no idea what was wrong with him’, leaving him to ‘rot at home’.
On private scans, Mr Watt was diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (PoTS), in which the heart rate increases very rapidly when rising from a sitting or lying position, and vaccine-induced myocarditis, a rare side effect of the Covid vaccination the heart causes inflammation.
He appeared at a ‘people’s forum’ organized by GB News on Monday, where Mr Watt told Mr Sunak to ‘look at the pain, trauma and regret I have in my eyes’.
Mr Watt, who has set up a support group in Scotland for people affected by the vaccine, said people injured by the vaccine, including those who have lost limbs and developed heart disease, are “completely without help”.
He said: ‘Why have the people in charge, who told us all to do the right thing, sideline me and the tens of thousands of people in this country?
‘Rishi Sunak, look me in the eye – when are you going to start doing the right thing?
‘The vaccine injury payment scheme is not fit for purpose. In Scotland there are currently more than 30,000 people who have had an adverse reaction to that vaccine.
“It’s time for you to do the right thing, Mr Rishi Sunak.”
Mr Sunak pointed out the vaccine compensation scheme, which provides payouts for those harmed by the jabs.
Although the jabs deployed during the pandemic are safe for the vast majority and have saved hundreds of thousands of lives, dozens of Britons have died or been left disabled after receiving a shot.
The UK’s Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme, launched in 1979, aims to reassure people that – in the extremely unlikely event something goes wrong after a jab – the state will provide them with financial support.
It includes a range of vaccines recommended by the government, including measles, mumps and rubella, as well as the Covid vaccines.
Under current rules, victims are entitled to a one-off all-or-nothing payment of £120,000 from the government.
Strict eligibility criteria mean those affected must either have been killed or be 60 percent disabled as a result of a vaccine.
The extent of a person’s disability is based on a physician’s assessment and can include either a physical disability, such as the loss of a limb, or a mental disability, such as a decline in cognitive function.
However, lawyers representing the injured or surviving relatives have previously warned that the plan is ‘no longer fit for purpose’.
Hundreds have had to wait more than 12 months for a decision on their applications, while some have been in limbo for more than 18 months.
Mr Watt hit out at the compensation scheme as only a “very small percentage” have received a payout and most are “no further ahead than they were about a year ago”.
He said: ‘Rishi Sunak, you were never informed of our existence. It’s not the first time, buddy.
Before he was vaccinated (left and then right), Mr Watt said he was ‘fit and healthy’ and regularly did boxing, CrossFit and strength training to keep himself in shape
On private scans, Mr Watt was diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (PoTS), in which the heart rate increases very rapidly when rising from a sitting or lying position, and vaccine-induced myocarditis, a rare side effect of the Covid vaccination the heart causes inflammation
Lawyers representing the injured or surviving relatives said last year that the scheme was “no longer fit for purpose”. While the scheme had received 6,399 claims by September, more than 500 people were waiting more than 12 months for an outcome, with 166 in limbo for more than 18 months. At least 127 claims for the state-funded financial support had been approved by September, bringing the total bill to more than £15 million
‘This applies to all politicians, because this is an apolitical issue. This is a message to all of you because the longer you leave it and bury your head in the sand. It doesn’t go away.
‘Do you want to talk about the post office scandal? This is bigger. This is a global situation and it is getting worse and you can no longer run away from it.”
The Department of Health has said more than 144 million Covid vaccines have been distributed in England, with the historic scheme saving thousands of lives.
All vaccines used in Britain, including those that helped beat Covid, have been rigorously tested before being released to the market.
Trials saw tens of thousands of people vaccinated with jabs from AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Moderna to check their effectiveness and safety.
However, these studies, as with any new drug or vaccine, will rarely produce extremely rare side effects, such as heart inflammation.