There are occasions when you may want to discuss vaccine adverse events either because you are experiencing one and you want more information or because someone you know may have one and you would like to alert them. In both cases, the most important part of any discussion is to recognize that there may be differing opinions and to be open to them. Also recognize that there will be some who, captured by the ‘safe and effective’ narrative, and totally deny any adverse events. On the other side, there will be some that consider any and all events following vaccination to be an adverse reaction. These two extremes are probably not open to discussion as much as agreeable monologue.
In an open discussion, visually, the beginning may fall into one of four categories, known as a Johari Window.
| I know and you know. | I know and you don’t know. |
| You know and I don’t know | I don’t know and you don’t know. |
The goal of the discussion is to have both people know (upper left box) based on the best available information. One of the best sources of available information is other people’s experiences. When it comes to vaccine injury or adverse events, the Canadian Adverse Events Reporting System (CAERS) may provide assistance in two ways. First, it makes it easy to submit data from a lengthy list of previously reported events without having to rely on a health professional to do it for you on their time. Second, this system hopes, in the near future, to offer an option for a person to seek professional help if you or someone you know realizes that you have a problem with vaccine injury. This is a unique opportunity. Here is how the Canadian Covid Care Alliance describes it on their website.
Being open to a discussion, but not knowing how to initiate it with another person, is often referred to as the ‘elephant in the room.’ A possible way to initiate discussion about vaccine adverse events is to introduce the other person to CAERS. For example, if they have what you suspect is an injury, (You know, but they don’t know) you might say “I read something about that on CAERS. You might want to check it out.” Alternatively, if someone with a health background has recommended CAERS to you, (They know, but you don’t know) consider this a learning or reporting opportunity so that you can both move into the upper left window sooner.
The ’Adverse Event Reports’ page alone has references to about 95 adverse event topics. Truly, there are a lot of adverse events associated with the mRNA vaccines!
https://www.caers.info/adverse-events-reference-guide
You, your family and friends can submit a report from the link on the home page. We encourage you to use it to facilitate open discussions and eliminate the ‘elephant in the room’.
https://www.caers.info/adverse-events-reference-guide
Let’s all move forward with open dialogue about all options and the sharing of experiences. Providing people with the opportunity to discuss their adverse reactions may be empowering once the person feels they are being acknowledged. Eliminating the ‘elephant in the room’ will make for a healthier society physically, mentally and emotionally.
