Witness Testimony

Ellen Smith testified that she is a homemaker and primary caregiver for her adult daughter with Down Syndrome and other comorbid diagnoses. She described how the closure of her daughter’s structured day program during COVID restrictions resulted in mood changes, increased anxiety, and signs of mild depression. She stated that routine predictability is critical for individuals with special needs and that residual anxiety remains even after programs resumed. She also described increased stress within the household due to her husband working from home and long-term sleep disruption that began during lockdowns.
Smith testified that her husband, a federal government employee, was required to be vaccinated to maintain employment, and that her daughter was required to be vaccinated in order to return to her day program. She stated that she ultimately chose vaccination as well due to family visitation pressures and employment-related requirements. She reported experiencing immediate intense pain during her second injection and persistent localized arm pain that has continued for over a year, occurring several days per week.
She further testified that no detailed discussion of potential side effects occurred at the time of vaccination beyond standard paperwork. She stated that her husband’s request for a medical exemption was denied despite an egg allergy history related to prior vaccines. Smith concluded that the most difficult aspect has been loss of trust in public institutions and uncertainty about whether similar restrictions could recur.