Understanding Post-Vaccine Syndrome: Giving a Voice to the Unheard

The Overlooked Group Affected by COVID Vaccines

Welcome back to another episode of Immune Edit. I’m Dr. Doug Jones and I’m so happy that you have chosen to join us today. Last time we spoke about an emerging topic in the world called Long COVID. Once COVID hit several years ago, it obviously brought several changes to the world, and one of the things that we were so intent on during the COVID pandemic that we were getting solutions, getting a cure, getting answers, and there was a massive push to get vaccines in the world.

And so we had this whole thing about COVID vaccines. Now, while I acknowledge those vaccines have done a tremendous amount of good in the world because it was introduced to many people at least a baseline level of immunity, against COVID, there is a subset of the population that had significant adverse reactions to the COVID vaccine in particular, and the mRNA vaccines in particular.

The Silencing and Misunderstanding of Vaccine-Injured Patients

What’s interesting is that group of patients who were experiencing a lot of the side effects to the COVID vaccine were initially silenced, muted, not validated, and not even believed that they were having symptoms from these.

The next easy thing for the world to do to this group of patients is to just stereotype and throw them in this category of “anti-vaxxers.” And so then you have this immediate division between vaccine community and science and those that have struggled with it.

A lot of the patients initially reporting side effects and adverse reactions were actually people participating in the clinical trials, so it’s hard to say they’re anti-vax when they were volunteering to trust the pharmaceutical companies and the industry.

The Formation of React19 and the Fight for Recognition

These individuals were trusting and participating in the science to bring vaccines to the public. Once they reported side effects, they weren’t heard, supported, or believed — and yet they continued to struggle.

Many of them formed a nonprofit organization called React19, which has done tremendous work as a foundation to raise awareness and give this community a voice.

I got involved with React19 a while ago, and what’s fascinating is how quickly people dismiss this group. There isn’t even a diagnosis code currently for those suffering vaccine injury from COVID vaccines.

Why They Deserve to Be Heard

When we start talking about vaccine injury, some immediately categorize these patients as anti-vaxxers. That’s inappropriate and wrong. Just because someone suffered an adverse reaction to a vaccine doesn’t mean they are anti-vaccine or anti-science.

My goal with this podcast is to raise awareness for this community — people who are unheard, misunderstood, and invalidated — and to learn from them. They deserve help, respect, and our ear.

Acute Reactions and Post-Vaccine Syndrome

Just like acute COVID and Long COVID, there are acute reactions to COVID vaccines and also post-vaccine syndrome, where patients experience ongoing multisystem symptoms for months or years after vaccination.

There’s some overlap between post-vaccine syndrome and Long COVID. Both groups often experience:

• Mast cell disorders
• POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome)
• Angioedema
• GI problems (abdominal pain, bloating)
• Immune dysregulation or deficiency
• Autoimmune disorders
• Brain fog and fatigue

This group also frequently reports chronic headaches, small fiber neuropathies, and dysautonomia — a dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system that regulates heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, and more.

The Reality of Life with Post-Vaccine Syndrome

Imagine if those automatic body systems didn’t work properly. That’s what these patients live with. They often experience viral reactivations (like Epstein-Barr or herpes viruses) and face devastating effects on their daily lives — losing jobs, careers, and community support.

They’re frequently unrecognized by the medical community and governments, yet stereotyped as anti-vaccine. I stand firmly against that. These are people who trusted the science and deserve support.

The Need for Better Science and Informed Consent

During the pandemic, vaccine deployment resembled wartime medicine — quick decisions in crisis. But now, in what I call “peacetime,” we have the chance to study, improve, and refine.

We must:

• Improve reporting systems and clinical trials
• Increase safety scrutiny in manufacturing
• Ensure transparency and informed consent
• Accurately weigh the risks and benefits of vaccination

We owe patients clear information: the risks of acute and long COVID, vaccine effectiveness, and the potential for adverse reactions.

A Message to Vaccine-Injured Patients

I treat many vaccine-injured patients. In the early days, all I could do was listen, validate, and learn. But now, through years of collaboration and research, we have better diagnostics and individualized therapies.

This doesn’t mean I’m anti-vaccine — I’m pro-science, pro-truth, and pro-patient. We must do better science and care for everyone with compassion and transparency.

Standing with React19 and the Path Forward

Organizations like React19 have done tremendous work advocating for these patients. I stand with them — hand in hand — to continue raising awareness and ensuring no one feels alone.

If you are suffering, please reach out. You are not alone. I’ll listen, I’ll validate, and I’ll give you everything I have to help.

The Edit

If someone tells you they’re experiencing symptoms like fatigue, pain, brain fog, or tingling — listen. Validate them. Respect them. Demand better science. Don’t just skim headlines; seek truth and compassion.

Together, we can raise the standard and bring real help to those who’ve been unheard.

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