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Q&A: Can you elaborate on Vaccine Injury Support Program timelines?

Day 4 · 2:17:08 · Shannon Holmes · Dean Allison · Glen Motz

  • 📅 Pritchard was told he would reach the medical board by year-end, then pushed back a step, then left in queue with a “huge file” and no further contact.
  • 😤 He contrasts billions given to foreign leaders and motorcycle programs abroad with the “cruel” teasing of injured Canadians who followed government advice.
  • 🏠 Unable to work, dependent on friends for housing, meds and a smartwatch reminder for 15-20 daily medications, he fears homelessness.

Pritchard details years of run-around inside the federal compensation program.

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Transcript

Shannon Holmes · 2:17:08

Well, you started answering with my question, or I was going to go with this because, uh, You said you've applied through the Vaccine Injury Support Program, now the Vaccine Impact Assistance Program, and you're now sort of in limbo, right? So can you just elaborate a bit more on the timelines that you're talking about here? The last time you had sort of feedback from— So I called them after I did all the participating on the line, and they had those little video sessions, and I talked to this person a while ago and they said Uh, we saw your emails. I included the emails from the last program where they're giving me the runaround, and they said, well, unfortunately, you know, um, we're just getting going. But they said, uh, we have to put you back to like, you're not at the medical stage, you have to go back a step. Um, and I, I was like, okay, well, like, you know, can you just put me where I was before? And they said, well, we're going to try and get you through the program by the end of the year, try and get you in front of the medical board, but, uh This was in May, and then the last time I talked to them, they just said, you know, I was in queue, that, um, they didn't make— the lady did mention that I had a ton of— she goes, you have a really huge file.

Shannon Holmes · 2:18:13

And I said, oh, I know, um, uh, you know, I know it's a lot to go through, but I mean, it's pretty obvious that, you know, you don't have 4 or 5 major things go wrong all within, you know, a short period of time like that. And they just said, we'll get back to you. So I mean, you know, people have your life in their hands. You're not going to call them up every 5 minutes and be a pest, right? I hang up on people like that, so try not to do that, right? And, uh, you know, I, I need the help. Like, I need, you know, I can't work anymore. Um, even coming here, I didn't want to come. I thought a couple times about pulling out because this is a lot. Like, I like to be at home. I have a shelf full of medication. I have to take 5, 6 needles a day. To be here is an inconvenience, and, um, uh, to my— to taking care of myself. But I thought it was necessary to come. I do hope that they will get back to me. I mean, You always remain positive. That helps on the way, you know. It's like, uh, you don't want to be negative and think that they're not, but, you know, at some point, you know, um, I don't know if it's okay to say this or not, but the government said if you take this and something happens, we'll take care of you.

Shannon Holmes · 2:19:18

And you're all scrutinized and going through this program, and it's making me upset. I see President Zelensky, he shows up in Canada and he doesn't have to submit doctor's notes and do all this stuff or even have his financials looked at to see what he has, and he gets billions of dollars. And then I see that they're giving millions of dollars away to other countries where they've got motorcycles. I used to ride motorcycles. I'd like one, right? I could ride it to my appointments. And then here I am that took their shot on their advice because they said I had to if I wanted to go to a restaurant or if I wanted to travel or do any of these things, and I got sick and all I get is a phone call saying, we're going to think about it. Like teasing somebody hungry with a nice juicy steak, you know, or a nice juicy meal. It's, it's cruel what you're doing, you know. I mean, all these people, we don't have a time machine. We can't go back and, and stop ourselves, which I wish I could, and say, no, no, no, this is, this is not what you think it is. Um, we just want help so we can spend the remainder of our days and have some kind of help and comfort and not worry about homeless.

Shannon Holmes · 2:20:20

I'm sure Everybody saw the homeless people on the benches around here, you know, and I worried I'm gonna end up like that. And I probably would have ended up like that if it wasn't for friends and family who've given me a place to stay or some money or, um, you know, even— I don't know when it's time to take my medications. One of my friends gave me a smartwatch so it beeps at me when it's time to take one of my 15 or 20 medications, which has been very helpful. But that was this program's job to do. And they haven't done it yet. All they've done is made me very angry. And, you know, I have to sit here and bite my tongue because I have some words I like to use, but I promised Sean I wouldn't.

Dean Allison · 2:20:55

Where's home?

Shannon Holmes · 2:20:57

I live in York Region.

Dean Allison · 2:20:59

Thank you.

Shannon Holmes · 2:21:00

Toronto.

Dean Allison · 2:21:00

Richard, thank you very much for coming in and sharing that.

Shannon Holmes · 2:21:03

And thank you, Mr. Allison, because, you know, everybody here is, you know, it's a big Parliament building and there's a lot of MPs and we only have, you know, 3 here. I think it's 3, right? So, you know, I appreciate the work you guys are doing because this needs to be heard. And, you know, I know Canada takes care of everybody else, but me and everybody else who's come here, we do need help. So thank you very much.

Glen Motz · 2:21:32

Thank you for following my recommendations.