Creutzfeldt-Jakob & COVID Vaccine Link
- NEUILLY, France (AP) — A French court has dismissed a claim that a COVID-19 vaccine caused a woman's death from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), a rare and fatal neurodegenerative...
- The family sought compensation from the National Office for the Compensation for medical Accidents (ONIAM), requesting 45,000 euros each, as well as 86,000 euros posthumously for their wife...
- The woman received her first dose of the Pfizer Comirnaty vaccine on Aug.
French Court Rejects Claim Linking COVID-19 Vaccine to Rare Disease
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NEUILLY, France (AP) — A French court has dismissed a claim that a COVID-19 vaccine caused a woman’s death from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), a rare and fatal neurodegenerative disorder. The Cergy-Pontoise administrative court ruled against the husband and two sons of the woman, who died at age 48 in late 2021.
Family Sought Compensation, New Expertise
The family sought compensation from the National Office for the Compensation for medical Accidents (ONIAM), requesting 45,000 euros each, as well as 86,000 euros posthumously for their wife and mother. They also requested a new “expertise” or investigation, arguing the woman’s death was linked to her COVID-19 vaccination. An initial assessment found no connection.
Timeline of Vaccination and Illness
The woman received her first dose of the Pfizer Comirnaty vaccine on Aug. 4, 2021, followed by a second dose on aug. 25, 2021. Shortly after, she consulted her doctor for dizziness and neurological issues, leading to a work stoppage on Sept. 2, 2021. An MRI on Sept. 17, 2021, showed normal results. However, the persistence of symptoms prompted a consultation with a neurologist.
The neurologist suspected cerebellar syndrome,and the woman was hospitalized from oct. 8-24, 2021.A subsequent MRI led to the suspicion of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease,a diagnosis later confirmed. She was hospitalized again on Nov. 1, 2021, for palliative care and died 10 days later.
Court cites Experts on Disease incubation
The court rejected the family’s claim, citing expert testimony that the rapid onset of CJD made a causal link to the vaccination highly improbable. The court’s Feb. 25 judgment, recently made public, stated, “Experts believe that it is indeed impossible that Creutzfeldt-Jakob’s disease contracted by Ms. X. has been caused by her vaccination less than a month before, provided that it takes several years for the symptoms of this disease to appear.”
health Agency Corroborates Findings
The National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM) supported this analysis. According to the court, the ANSM reported onyl four declared cases of CJD following Pfizer COVID-19 vaccinations. The agency concluded that the short time frame between vaccination and the onset of symptoms did not support a causal relationship.
The family presented an article suggesting a link between COVID-19 vaccination and 16 cases of CJD with rapid symptom onset. The court dismissed the article as lacking scientific rigor, noting it was an unreviewed prepublication not published in a scientific journal. Post-mortem examination indicated the woman suffered from the typical variant of CJD.
The court acknowledged the family’s argument that the woman’s young age and rapid disease progression were atypical. However, judges stated that while CJD typically affects individuals around age 60, younger people can be affected. They also noted that while the typical life expectancy after diagnosis is about six months, death can occur in a shorter period, making the woman’s two-month decline not incompatible with current scientific understanding.
The family has until April 25 to appeal the decision.
French Court Rejects Vaccine-CJD Link: Your Questions Answered
Q: What happened in the French court case regarding the COVID-19 vaccine and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD)?
A: A French court dismissed a claim alleging that a COVID-19 vaccine caused a woman’s death from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). The Cergy-Pontoise administrative court ruled against the deceased woman’s family, who had sought compensation and a new investigation.
Q: What is Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD)?
A: CJD is a rare and fatal neurodegenerative disorder. It’s a progressive condition that leads to rapid deterioration of brain function and,ultimately,death.
Q: What were the family’s claims and requests?
A: The family sought compensation from the National Office for the Compensation for medical Accidents (ONIAM). Each family member requested 45,000 euros, and 86,000 euros was requested posthumously for the woman. additionally, they requested a new “expertise,” or investigation, to link the woman’s death to her COVID-19 vaccination.
Q: what was the timeline of the woman’s vaccination and illness?
A: The woman received her first dose of the Pfizer Comirnaty vaccine on August 4, 2021, and a second dose on August 25, 2021. Shortly after,she experienced dizziness and neurological issues,leading to a work stoppage on September 2,2021. while an MRI on September 17, 2021, showed normal results, her symptoms persisted. She was hospitalized from October 8-24, 2021, and a subsequent MRI led to the suspicion of CJD, which was later confirmed. She was hospitalized again on November 1, 2021, for palliative care and died 10 days later.
Q: What was the court’s reasoning for rejecting the family’s claim?
A: The court cited expert testimony that the rapid onset of CJD made a causal link to the vaccination highly improbable. The court stated that experts believe it is indeed impractical for the disease to have been caused by the vaccination less than a month before the appearance of symptoms, given that the incubation period typically spans several years.
Q: What role did the national Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM) play?
A: The ANSM supported the court’s analysis. According to the court, the ANSM reported onyl four declared cases of CJD following Pfizer COVID-19 vaccinations. The agency concluded that the short time frame between vaccination and the onset of symptoms did not support a causal relationship.
Q: Did the court consider any evidence presented by the family suggesting a link between the vaccine and CJD?
A: Yes, the family presented an article suggesting a link between COVID-19 vaccination and 16 cases of CJD with rapid symptom onset. However, the court dismissed the article as lacking scientific rigor because it was a prepublication article that hadn’t undergone peer review and wasn’t published in a scientific journal.
Q: Did the court address the atypical aspects of the woman’s case, such as her young age and rapid disease progression?
A: Yes. The court acknowledged that the woman’s age (48) and the swift progression of her illness were unusual. However, they clarified that while CJD typically affects individuals around age 60, younger people can also be affected and that death can occur in a shorter period than the average six months after diagnosis in some cases, supporting the scientific understanding of the disease..
Q: What is the current status of this case?
A: The family has until April 25 to appeal the court’s decision.
Q: Where can I find more facts about CJD?
A: You can find more information on reputable sources like the World Health Organization (WHO) or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Q: What are the key takeaways from this court case?
A: The court found no causal link between the woman’s death from CJD and her COVID-19 vaccination. The decision highlights the importance of established scientific evidence and expert testimony when assessing potential links between medical interventions and rare diseases.
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