Table of Contents
- 1 “When it comes to vaccine safety, we have to pay attention to the rare things”
- 2 Christine Prayon suffers from heart pain, dizziness and extreme exhaustion
- 3 Again and again she experiences “the absolute crash”
- 4 Treatment of Post-Covid and Post-Vac
- 5 Contact points for those affected by Post-Vac
- 6 **How can better data collection and analysis improve the understanding of vaccine side effects and their relation to Long-Covid and Post-Covid conditions?**
For many people it is a silent suffering. Even simple everyday life is often too much for those affected, more like survival than living. We are talking about Long-Covid and Post-Covid as well as Post-Vac. The terms mean the clinical pictures that appear after a corona infection and after a Covid vaccination.
Those who suffer from this often have to struggle with similar complaints, as well as problems with the health system – finding contact points and being taken seriously. Eckart von Hirschhausen accompanies some of these fates. In his now seventh Corona film, “ Hirschhausen and the long shadow of Corona “ ( from now on in the ARD media library and on Monday, November 18th, 8:15 p.m., on Erste) the doctor gives those affected a voice.
“When it comes to vaccine safety, we have to pay attention to the rare things”
At the same time, Hirschhausen criticizes the fact that data protection prevents precise analyses. Addressed to the Paul Ehrlich Institute (PEI), which is responsible for monitoring vaccination complications. It relies on individual case reports from those affected and from doctors’ practices. “But that never fully captures everything,” says Hirschhausen. The institute therefore has the legal mandate to additionally evaluate the existing diagnostic data from the statutory health insurance associations.
He is still a clear supporter of vaccination, but he believes: “In the 21st century we could make huge progress through clean data, especially when it comes to vaccination safety, we have to pay particular attention to the rare and very rare things.” This is what happened with the sinus veins. Thrombosis works well. This side effect was seen with the Astrazeneca vaccine. In Germany, 65 million people were vaccinated, tolerated it well and were less likely to get Long Covid, as the ARD documentary reports. “But how many became ill as a result of the vaccination itself, perhaps 10,000, 20,000 or even more?” asks Hirschhausen.
Christine Prayon suffers from heart pain, dizziness and extreme exhaustion
One affected person with confirmed vaccine damage is Christine Prayon. She appeared as Birte Schneider for a long time on the “Heute Show”. Nine days after her first vaccination, she started experiencing symptoms. Your heart is damaged. She was perfectly healthy before, she says in an interview with Hirschhausen. After the second vaccination, further symptoms appear: muscle weakness, tremors, heart pain, dizziness, circulatory problems and extreme exhaustion. A corona infection came on top of that.
“I now have to deal with a sick body or a very strange illness that I can’t categorize,” says Prayon. But not only she, but also all the doctors around her couldn’t classify her.
Hirschhausen explains about Post-Covid and Post-Vac: “It has not been proven what exactly triggers both diseases.” One possible mechanism is an excessive reaction to the spike protein from the real virus or to what is formed after vaccination . There are neither clear criteria nor a causal treatment, and therefore no reliable figures. The doctor cites figures from the beginning of the year that around 470 vaccine injuries were recognized nationwide, but thousands were waiting for a decision.
Again and again she experiences “the absolute crash”
The former “Heute Show” cabaret artist is often no longer strong today. In everyday life the question “How do I do this?” comes up again and again. She likes to have control over her body.
Hirschhausen asks whether she sees any development. “Whenever I have the impression that I am feeling better, I can set the alarm so that a day or a week later I will experience the absolute crash again,” says the 50-year-old. Such crashes are typical after an overload. These break-ins still occur frequently.
“And yet I believe that it will stop at some point,” says the vaccine victim optimistically. “I have a child. And having a child always means to me that I can’t give up hope.”
Treatment of Post-Covid and Post-Vac
What can help those affected by Post-Vac and Post-Covid? Thomas Loew, specialist in psychiatry, psychosomatics and psychotherapy, explained in an interview with FOCUS online: “Ultimately, it is very difficult to separate clinically. These are the same symptoms, people need the same treatment.” Above all, it’s about finding a suitable therapy for each patient individually.
The serious long-term consequence ME/CFS (often referred to as chronic fatigue syndrome) has been recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) for more than 50 years. Nevertheless, there are still no approved therapies. Different viruses can trigger them, as Hirschhausen explains, but since Corona, cases have increased massively.
Because the disease is so complex, it is not very lucrative, criticizes Carmen Scheibebogen, head of the Fatigue Center at the Charité Berlin: Long-Covid is much more complex than the vaccine and “no one expects a miracle cure for everyone, so all of these people are uninteresting for the pharmaceutical industry.” Something is still happening when it comes to treating ME/CFS, as she reports in the film. She is hopeful that a process that neutralizes so-called autoantibodies will be very effective for many people.
Contact points for those affected by Post-Vac
Many people do not know that they can report suspected side effects themselves as patients. Many people mistakenly believe that they need to see a doctor to report it. However, there are several options for a patient, or on behalf of children or relatives, to make a report if a vaccination side effect is suspected. We have summarized the different reporting channels here:
- If you notice symptoms after a vaccination that go beyond the usual level of a vaccination reaction, you can report them as a suspected side effect. Online This is relatively straightforward this reporting form .
- You can also report your suspicions by telephone. Monday to Friday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on the Paul Ehrlich Institute hotline +49 6103 77 8181 .
- Who prefers his complaints by post If you would like to report, you can also print out the ready-made form and send it to the following address: Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Drug Safety Department, Paul-Ehrlich-Str. 51 to 59, 63225 Langen.
**How can better data collection and analysis improve the understanding of vaccine side effects and their relation to Long-Covid and Post-Covid conditions?**
1. As an editor, how would you introduce the topic of the interview to our viewers/readers?
The topic of the interview is the ongoing challenges faced by individuals suffering from Long-Covid, Post-Covid and Post-Vac, as well as the limitations of the healthcare system in addressing their needs. We discuss the importance of providing a voice to those affected by these conditions, the complexity of their treatment, and the existing reporting channels for suspected vaccination side effects.
2. What is the primary message that Eckart von Hirschhausen wants to convey in his recently released documentary, “Hirschhausen und der lange Schatten von Corona”?
In his documentary, Eckart von Hirschhausen aims to give a voice to those affected by Long-Covid and Post-Covid and highlight the difficulties they face in finding adequate healthcare and support. He emphasizes the need for better data collection and analysis to improve our understanding of these conditions and their causes.
3. Can you talk about the challenges that individuals suffering from Long-Covid and Post-Covid face when trying to access medical care and support?
One of the biggest challenges faced by those with Long-Covid and Post-Covid is the lack of clarity regarding their condition. Many doctors and healthcare professionals struggle to diagnose and treat these conditions, which can lead to frustration and a sense of being dismissed by the medical community. Additionally, the long-term nature of the symptoms can make it difficult for individuals to maintain their daily routines and activities, further complicating their situation.
4. How does the issue of data privacy impact the ability of public health authorities to monitor and understand the side effects of vaccines and long-term conditions like Long-Covid?
The issue of data privacy can hamper the ability of public health authorities to fully understand the side effects of vaccines and long-term conditions like Long-Covid. While individual case reports provide valuable information, they may not capture everything that happens in the wider population. Eckart von Hirschhausen advocates for creating a more comprehensive system that allows for the analysis of diagnostic data from statutory health insurance associations.
5. Can you share the story of Christine Prayon, a former “He
