Witness Testimony

Meredith Klitzke testified that although her initial instinct was not to vaccinate, she chose to receive two COVID-19 doses in 2021 after being told she might have multiple sclerosis and was therefore immunocompromised. She described repeated messaging from public health sources and social pressure from trusted individuals that led her to question her judgment. She received her second dose in August 2021 and stated that within two weeks her health significantly deteriorated.
She testified that she developed burning mouth syndrome, severe lip swelling, tremors and muscle spasms on her left side, and sudden hormonal disruption consistent with premature menopause. She reported losing 25 pounds due to inability to eat during the first month and described ongoing neurological symptoms, fatigue, and abnormal gynecological complications. She stated that referrals for nerve conduction testing were delayed and that she remains unable to work full-time due to unpredictable tremors and exhaustion.
Klitzke testified that she has personally spent approximately $10,000 on treatment and that she applied to the federal Vaccine Injury Support Program, which she was told could take 12 to 18 months for processing. She described difficulty navigating the Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI) reporting system, explaining that even when physicians complete forms, local medical officers determine whether reports are forwarded to provincial authorities. She stated that many injured individuals struggle to have reports accepted and expressed concern that adverse events are underreported.