Locally reported adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccinations has prompted a Grant District councillor to seek further questions about natural immunity to the infectious disease.

His own personal experience along with impact statements from local residents has generated a series of questions from Grant District councillor Gavin Clarke to Health and Wellbeing Minister Chris Picton.

Cr Clarke has continually raised the topic of COVID-19 vaccinations in the public forum.

More recently, local residents who claimed to have had adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccinations have come forward and shared their experiences with Cr Clarke.

“Locally at least 15 people that have been seriously adversely affected have approached me directly,” he said.

At a recent council meeting Cr Clarke read aloud impact statements from a number of residents, however their identities have not been disclosed.

“People who spoke to me were happy being represented, but they do not want the attention,” he said.

Cr Clarke was visibly emotional, stating he found accounts hard to read, one in particular he resonated with.

He told council how he had personally been affected by his own COVID-19 vaccination.

Cr Clarke claimed the side effects had impacted his ability to function at times and prevented his attendance at council meetings.

Cr Mann said he too had been adversely affected following his second vaccination and questioned whether to continue with the recommended booster vaccinations.

“I had a problem about eight weeks after that affected my health for three months post vaccination,” he said.

Cr Mann is an allied health professional and as such he is required to have a third vaccination to keep his job.

However, he said due to his adverse reaction he was in the process of seeking exemption.

Meanwhile, Cr Clarke’s motion at a council meeting in April and subsequent letter to the Minister was cause for the topic to be raised again at a recent council meeting.

Cr Clarke said he felt Minister Picton had not addressed council’s query regarding current COVID-19 vaccination requirements and the benefits of natural immunity.

In his letter, tabled in council’s meeting agenda, Minster Picton said COVID-19 vaccinations have played a significant role in ensuring South Australians receive the greatest level of protection against COVID 19 during the

pandemic.

“While many COVID-19 restrictions have now been eased, some measures remain in place based on expert health advice,” Minister Picton said.

“This includes some requirements regarding vaccinations for occupations where there is increased risk of transmitting COVID 19 to vulnerable South Australians, including people working in hospital and health care settings, disability care and those visiting and working in residential aged care facilities.

“These decisions have been made following the advice and recommendations of the Chief Public Health Officer professor Nicola Spurrier and the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee.

“The vaccines approved for use in Australia by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation and the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) are safe and effective.

“Please be advised the framework for the administration of vaccines is set by the Commonwealth and the Therapeutic Goods Administration.”

Cr Clarke questioned the Minister’s response.

“The Minister’s response does include a provocative statement the Covid vaccines are safe and effective,” he said.

“Specifically what are they effective in doing?

“Safe and effective… as someone who has been seriously adversely affected, my life has been completely turned around.

“When I see the words ‘safe and effective’ it affects me deeply.”

This led Cr Clarke to request council write another letter to Minister Picton.

Forming part of council’s correspondence will be the impact statements collected by Cr Clarke.

He moved that council “ask why the life altering injuries experienced by our residents are not being acknowledged or warned about in the risk disclosures that are required for effective informed consent when prescribed or administering any drug, experimental or otherwise?”

“What I would like to see is that when they say safe and effective, they back that up with some information on the potential dangers that exist,” Cr Clarke said.

“They are clearly a risk recognised by doctors but they are not being adequately warned about.

“So, what I would like to see in the first instance is the warnings change.

“So that when we get these drugs we are adequately warned of the risks.”