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Alison Smith

First Dose of AstraZeneca in 02/21

Second Dose of AstraZeneca in 05/21

First Booster of Pfizer in 11/21

Scotland, United Kingdom

49 yrs old


Q: What was your life like before you got the vaccine?

It was ok. I do have a few health issues that are being treated. I had a cholesteatoma removed along with a radical mastoidectamy in 2001which resulted in hearing loss in my left ear. I'm am under ENT at the moment being tested for an auto immune disease, I have subglottic stenosis and waiting on an operation to have the damaged part of my wind pipe fixed.


Q: Would you like to share your reasons for getting vaccinated?

Being put in a situation of lockdown and fear, unable to see our families, the media was telling us that all of these people would die if we didn't take it. It was constant fear 24/7. The government was telling us it was the only way to get out of it. I was scared for my elderly Mum and my Grandson so I took it thinking it was for the greater good.


Q: What was your reaction, symptoms, & timeline?

First dose I felt awful for weeks with lethargy, headache, aches but just thought it was normal.


2nd dose pretty much the same. I just wanted to sleep all the time. Concentrating on work was challenging.


3rd dose Pfizer booster, within a few days I had dizzy spells, high blood pressure and tinnitus. My blood pressure was 182/96 with a resting pulse of 114.


Q: What is your life like now, after getting the vaccine?

I'm so down. I already have hearing loss in my ear which makes it difficult to hear, but now with the constant high pitch tone I can hardly hear a thing. I don't feel part of any conversations and I'm embarrassed to keep asking people to repeat themselves. I lose my train of thought in the middle of a conversation and have a hard time remembering simple words.


Q: Share your experience with any medical care and any diagnoses you have received:

I went to my GP, she gave me anti-dizziness medication and said there was fluid and bubbles in my ear. She referred me to an ENT. On my appointment the ENT didn't check my ears. He said he thinks it's all related to an auto-immune disease. I am 50 yrs old and have had the issues with hearing loss etc for 20 yrs and never once had tinnitus. Now after getting the vaccine, I have it 24/7 and its getting louder.


Q: Was your reaction reported, and what was the response?

I went back to see another GP and advised nobody was taking it seriously. He has referred me back to ENT and audiology. When I mentioned to him that I had spoken to a few people who now have tinnitus after their vaccination, he told me he hadn't heard of it.


Q: Is there anything that has helped, and have your symptoms improved?

Nothing helps, the ringing in my ear is constant, forgetting simple words or forgetting what I was saying mid sentence is alarming.


Q: Have you had Covid before? What was your experience if so?

I haven't had covid.


Q: What do you wish others knew?

I wish I hadn't blindly trusted the Government when they said it was safe. I took it because of my breathing issues and also my husband has had a triple heart bypass 6yrs ago and has an aneurism on his heart wall. I thought we were doing the right thing but now with all of the heart problems coming to light after receiving the vaccine I wonder if we've made him worse. People need to know these side effects exist especially since we're being penalized if we don't take them. It isn't an informed choice if you don't have information. I feel like we were bullied and coerced into taking them. They dangled our freedom over our heads until we agreed.



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