Kerry, a confident mental health advocate was left barely able to speak after her second Novavax jab. Now living with persistent heart issues and life-altering neurological symptoms, she is determined to hold authorities accountable and get the vaccine roll-out stopped.
Kerry was an active, health-conscious woman deeply engaged in her community and working in mental health. She prioritised conscious self-care and maintained excellent health through deliberate lifestyle choices. Like many New Zealanders during the COVID-19 era, she faced vaccine mandates that affected her part-time role with the DHB (District Health Board). The decision to vaccinate did not come easily. She stalled for a long time, questioning the process excessively, seeking answers from medical professionals.
There was just something in me that didn’t sit right. And so my work organized for me to sit in person with the chief vaccinator at my hospital. So I met him a couple of times, and he couldn’t get me across the line with Pfizer. I still couldn’t go there. Even though I was told that they would look after me if anything untoward happened.
When Novavax was mentioned as an alternative, she made inquiries, but timing and family needs ultimately drove her choice.
Her daughter in Australia had major surgery scheduled and needed family support, especially with a young child (just over one year old) at home. Kerry got vaccinated—two doses of Novavax, three weeks apart—to return to work and help her family.
Ironically, her daughter’s surgery was postponed due to COVID interruptions, and her daughter returned to New Zealand with her little boy and dog. By then, Kerry had already received her second dose and was suffering adverse effects.
Within 72 hours of the second dose, Kerry’s health turned upside down. Neurological issues hit hardest: severe brain fog, inability to speak properly (words wouldn’t come or only a few emerged), and intense pressure in her head, especially on the right side. She experienced visual problems, chest pain and heaviness, major hair loss (over half her hair on the right side), breathlessness, and profound fatigue.
She tried to hide her symptoms from her daughter, who was battling severe, clinically diagnosed PTSD. Kerry’s daughter only lasted five weeks in New Zealand before returning to Australia, unaware of the full extent of her mother’s decline.
She didn’t know. She just thought, you know, “What is wrong with mum?” It got so severe, this not being able to talk or think properly — actually to try and talk caused pain and pressure in my head.
Her GP at the time (who has since left the practice) described her presentation as “like a stroke victim.” The doctor referred her to general medicine, submitted a severe vaccine injury claim to ACC without Kerry even asking, and noted multiple issues including the brain injury, chest discomfort and hair loss.
While waiting for specialist care, Kerry had repeated ambulance trips and felt completely debilitated—she describes being “like a vegetable.” She could barely move from the couch to the toilet, kitchen or bed. Many nights she went to sleep unsure if she would wake up. At one point, isolated in her semi-rural home, the dysfunction became so severe that she seriously considered taking her own life. The uncertainty and dismissal amplified the trauma.
Waiting under general medicine for about four and a half months, Kerry faced four changes of doctors in what she described as a “bloody circus.” Referrals to Auckland specialists were declined.
What does it take?! You know it was obvious that I’m not okay? I got so frustrated.
Many medical professionals stonewalled her when she mentioned the vaccine timing—symptoms started immediately after the second dose — Kerry has no shadow of doubt that her symptoms are vaccine related. They repeatedly attributed everything to stress, leaving her feeling more alone and questioning her sanity.
One doctor finally said, “I believe you,” acknowledging they were seeing many “weird and wonderful things” and entering “a whole new ball game.”
Home help was organised because Kerry could do almost nothing for herself. Her pre-vaccine achievements—a public DHB publication on conscious self-care, a project she was passionate about—sat untouched in a box. Mandates had already sidelined her work; injury made it impossible to continue with her project.
Chest issues worsened which Kerry complained consistently about for over a year. Until, eventually, she suffered a major heart event and spent five days in acute coronary care. Still, some cardiologists dismissed links to the vaccine. One overrode her attempts to discuss it; another privately admitted seeing “a lot of people post-vaccine” with cardiac issues.
In a striking moment, a cardiologist admitted they were “seeing a lot of people post vaccine and Covid right now” and revealed she herself had not had a booster in over two years!! Kerry found this deeply troubling — as the hospital were still running a COVID vaccination clinic in the reception area.
It’s beyond me that these toxic, destructive vaccines continue. I just can’t even comprehend why, when there’s such extreme harm, that they are allowing it to continue? What it’s done to people’s lives?!
Kerry continues to battle heart symptoms and restricted living, and needs significant rest.
She has since gone private for care, spending thousands, including on $3,000 a pop advanced MRI’s, and is depleting her retirement savings. A brain CT scan report indicates a chronic lacunar infarction (a type of stroke). Her cardiologist links ongoing symptoms—fluid around the heart, stiffness, and pain in the left back and upper arm—to the vaccine, noting he sees “a lot of it.” She awaits full reports and a neurology referral.
She is now represented by a lawyer and has been granted legal aid, in her appeal against ACC’s denial of her claim. Early on she told ACC: “I will fight this to my last breath.” She stands by that, determined not to let them “get away with it.” She hates how injured people have been treated while still suffering.
Kerry wants an open court hearing to read a victim impact statement. She seeks full government acknowledgment; truth about what happened; and answers on why medical professionals often remained silent or dismissive despite seeing patterns of harm.
She knows she is one of thousands and believes more voices speaking out will help.
I want to know the truth about why these medical people have been so blatantly not engaging and speaking up about it. I want to know that. I’ve seen enough. It’s been a real eye opener. It’ll live with me forever.
While she has come a long way, some effects may be lifelong. She feels lucky to have survived this far but remains deeply impacted.
Kerry’s story highlights the human cost behind vaccine mandates and the challenges of seeking recognition for injuries in New Zealand’s system. ACC has received thousands of COVID vaccine-related claims, with a portion accepted, yet many face denial and lengthy battles.
Her experience echoes broader questions raised in public discourse, which failed to be addressed in the recent Royal Commission process.
At www.thetribute.nz, we platform these voices so experiences like Kerry’s are heard. If you or someone you know has been affected, sharing their stories matters—for acknowledgment, for better systems, and for truth.
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