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Q&A: Scott’s Reaction to the Vaccine Injury Support Payout

Day 3 · 2:29:54 · Blaine Calkins · Carole Avoine · Dean Allison

  • 😤 VISP navigation was frustration-filled and poorly handled, matching most injured people’s stigma.
  • 💵 Acknowledgment brought brief relief, but the sum was “shekels for his sacrifice,” nowhere near future needs.
  • 😔 Relief mixed with disappointment and neglect that he would not be there for his children.

Settlement validated injury yet felt insultingly inadequate.

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Transcript

Blaine Calkins · 2:29:54

Yeah, well, uh, Crystal, thanks for sharing your brother with us. Um, many of us got to know him quite well around here. Um, and just If you can do it in a brief amount of time, can you just talk a little bit about Scott's reaction to getting the settlement through the Vaccine Injury Program? I had a conversation with him about it. He seemed somewhat relieved in the fact that it was acknowledged that he was injured, but that was about the end of his relief.

Carole Avoine · 2:30:26

Yeah, the Vaccine Injury Program was very difficult to navigate. Frustration after frustration. It was not— he was not treated very well either during that process. But I think for everybody who's had a vaccine injury, the vast majority of them have been treated really unwell, poorly. There's a lot of stigma now. It's a stigma. Associated with it. And so that, that validation gave him relief, but the settlement or the reimbursement was, um, not even close to, um, what could cover anything for him or his future. That he's not here for his children, um, it wasn't— it was shekels for his sacrifice. And, and I think that that was also a slap in the face.

Carole Avoine · 2:31:29

So at the same time that he felt a pang of relief, he also felt, you know, um, the thrust of disappointment and neglect.

Dean Allison · 2:31:45

Thank you. And to the MPs, thanks for the questions. Dr. Crystal, you and I have had lots of conversations, and I, I know your heart. Yeah, I know your story. And I know that Doug Shipley, which is who your brother was working for most recently, wanted to be here today.

Dean Allison · 2:32:02

He's—.

Dean Allison · 2:32:02

He had a trip planned months and months in advance, and that he, he sends his regret. And I know that you've been, uh, you've been, uh, talking with, with his office, with him. So yeah, I want to thank you once again. Crystal, for, uh, coming here. And I, I think it really speaks volumes to the fact that, uh, you would come here and, and tell Scott's story, because Scott wanted to be here himself.

Carole Avoine · 2:32:27

He did. And it's one way that we can honor Scott 100%.

Dean Allison · 2:32:32

So, so thank you for being here. And I know you, you brought your, your aunt today, so I, I thank you for coming as well. Thanks so much. Thanks, Crystal.