Witness Testimony

Paula Doiron, a long-term care worker in Moncton, New Brunswick, testified that she worked in a nursing home throughout the early pandemic and described the immediate lockdown of residents, visitor bans, cancellation of activities, and prolonged room isolation lasting up to two months in some cases. She stated that residents were confined to their rooms, including meals being delivered in-room, and described the emotional toll and decline in morale among both residents and staff, who were already short-staffed.
Doiron testified that she received a 2020 influenza vaccine followed by three Moderna COVID-19 doses in 2021. She reported experiencing immediate symptoms after the flu shot, including severe headache, neck pain, and breathing difficulty, which she did not initially attribute to vaccination. After her booster dose, she reported worsening symptoms including burning sensations in her head, neck, and spine, nerve pain, fatigue, menstrual irregularities, and what she described as “brain zaps” and cognitive fog. She sought emergency care and underwent imaging that identified cervical spine degenerative changes, but stated she was told to “live with it” and that no adverse event report was filed.
She testified that she went on sick leave in October 2021 and has been unable to return to work due to chronic pain and mobility limitations. She described financial hardship following the expiration of employment insurance benefits and stated that she received limited medical support for her symptoms. She also testified that a naturopathic genetic analysis suggested she carried an MTHFR gene variant that may increase sensitivity to vaccines. Doiron described social isolation, strained family relationships, and anxiety regarding ongoing health concerns.