NSW father almost loses leg after AstraZeneca vaccine

NSW man Albert Schneider bears shocking scars after surgery to remove blood clots linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine and says he should be compensated.

Exclusive: Albert Schneider had to have two operations and nearly lost one of his legs after developing rare blood clots from the AstraZeneca vaccine.

The 63-year-old still has no feeling in the affected leg and is on blood thinners to dissolve numerous other clots that developed in his liver and lungs.

And he bears two shocking scars that stretch from his knee to his ankle where doctors operated to remove the clots that threatened his life and his leg.

But for all of the trauma he has endured, it is the government’s new no fault vaccine compensation scheme that has him most frustrated.

He’s applied to be recompensed three times but said on none of these occasions has he even received an email acknowledging his claim.

Albert Schneider has scars running from his knee to his ankle after developing multiple blood clots from the AstraZeneca vaccine. Picture: Supplied

Albert Schneider is one of 160 Australians to suffer blood clots after the AZ jab. Picture: Supplied

The former labourer from Maitland, in the New South Wales Hunter Valley, felt something was wrong when he woke up with pins and needles and a numb feeling in his leg 10 days after his first AstraZeneca jab.

“I hit the jackpot, one in a million,” he said.

Tests at the hospital showed his platelets levels, which should be up around about 260, were just seven.

“When they said look, you might lose your leg from the knee down I thought okay, if I have to hop out, I’ll hop out,” he said pragmatically.

After being discharged from hospital, weeks later he had what he describes as “almost like a nervous breakdown” as the full reality that he nearly died or lost his leg sunk in.

“Sometimes it doesn’t hit you straight away,” he said.

Albert Schneider had two surgeries in two days to remove clots from his leg and now has a scar running from his knee to his ankle and a numb leg. Picture: Supplied

He believes he is owed some kind of compensation to recognise the pain and suffering he has endured to keep himself and the community safe from Covid.

“I didn’t do it to get compensation. That’s just stupid. I did it to not catch it (Covid),” he said.

“I just don’t think people should have had to go through the pain and anguish and whatever.

“I shouldn’t have had to go through all these surgeries and the discomfort of everything.”

Mr Schneider was one of 160 Australians to develop rare blood clots after the AstraZeneca jab.

Eight died from the side effect but rapidly developed tests and treatment guidelines mean most Australians who developed the complication survived.

More than 1000 Australians who had the Pfizer and Moderna jabs also developed severe side effects – 530 developed suspected myocarditis (inflammation of the heart) and 1248 developed suspected pericarditis (inflammation of the membrane around the heart).

People who suffered an adverse event from any Covid vaccine — as well as families of those who died — can now apply for thousands of dollars in compensation.

Albert with his daughter Amy, son Bradley and wife Cathy. Picture: Supplied

The federal government is rolling out a multi-tiered reparations package, which will cover claims for lost wages or health expenses of $5000 to $20,000 and even more for death.

Law firm Shine estimated at least 10,000 people were planning to claim money under the no-fault indemnity scheme.

The government expected to begin assessing applications from Australians who had suffered injury and loss of income in mid-December, a spokesperson for the Department of Health said.

“Potential claimants, who have registered their interest in the Scheme will be notified directly ahead of this next phase,” the department said.

“It is expected payments will flow shortly after assessments are made.”

Mr Schneider is not eligible for the income part of the package, as he is on a separate disability pension. He has applied for pain and suffering compensation.

Despite his leg remaining numb, painful and swelling up when he walks, he said his experience had not put him off getting fully vaccinated.

He is waiting for doctors to advise him whether to opt for another brand of vaccine for his second shot.

Irrespective of what that is, he faces months, maybe years, on blood thinning medication.

BLOOD CLOTS SYMPTOMS

People should seek immediate medical attention if they develop any of the following symptoms after vaccination with the AstraZeneca shot:

•severe or persistent headache, blurred vision, confusion or seizures

•shortness of breath, chest pain, leg swelling or persistent abdominal pain

•unusual skin bruising and/or pinpoint round spots beyond the site of vaccination.

The most common time period for onset of symptoms associated with the rare blood-clotting condition, known as Thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), is 4–30 days after vaccination.