Virginie Cathala was a nurse in Gruissan in Aude. In 2021, she contracted an autoimmune disease after being vaccinated against Covid. Defended by Me Terral, of the Béziers Bar, justice recognized the link between his illness and vaccination against Covid. The State will therefore have to compensate this nurse who can no longer work and who has been forced to close her practice.
Virginie Cathala displays an appropriate smile. But behind it, its fragility remains palpable. You have to put on a good face in the face of adversity. Four years ago, in the middle of a pandemic, this liberal nurse was vaccinated against Covid.
“The vaccine was necessary, we had to fight. We didn't have masks at the start, butcher's aprons, trash bags to protect ourselves and patients waiting for us. The laboratories released vaccines and the risk benefit helped save a number of lives. It was a health war and I fell on the front line, just after vaccination. She actually contracted an autoimmune disease in 2021.
The State found responsible
On December 17, the Montpellier administrative court recognized the State's responsibility in the illness contracted by Virginie. He will pay him compensation. The magistrates recognized a link between this famous vaccination and Potspostural tachycardia syndrome, from which Virginie Cathala now suffers, who can no longer practice her profession. She was even forced to sell her practice in Gruissan, in Aude.
“A nurse doesn't just give injectionsinsists Me Terral who defends the interests of Virginie Cathala. A nurse is busy, she moves patients. It is a physically demanding job. The judgment of the administrative court is, in principle, a great victory. This is the first time, in France, that the link has been established between vaccination and illness. It is the result of several years of medical wanderings. We were proud of them, we applauded our health workers every evening and there, faced with illness, they were somewhat abandoned.”
She worked full of pain
“I went to the Narbonne polyclinic, explains Virginie Cathala. It was the only place for us to get vaccinated. I wasn't against all that. As this was done after the injection, we were made to wait. Very quickly I had a tachycardia problem. To avoid distressing those who were there, I didn't say anything as long as there were people there, then I informed a nurse. They told me it was stress. No, no, I was voluntary…”
Virginie Cathala went back to work, tired, full of pain. Her doctor then diagnosed pericarditis and immediately stopped it by having her hospitalized. “I never had Covid and I then went through months of medical wandering. Unheard, I passed from specialist to specialist until a professor in Toulouse had a doubt. For confirmation, he sent me to Marseille and Pots syndrome was confirmed.
The main symptom of Pots is the abnormal increase in pulse rate, without drop in blood pressure, when the patient moves from a lying to standing position.
Going up a floor is a challenge
“As soon as I do too many things, my body sends me a signal. And when I say too many things: for example, get up, brush my teeth and get dressed. Nothing more. I'm very tired , I have cognitive problems, vision problems My autonomic nervous system is affected. It is debilitating on a daily basis.underlines Virginie.
A high-level sportswoman, former French gymnastics champion, practicing mountain biking, trail running, hiking and numerous sporting activities with her family, she no longer does anything today. Going up a floor is a challenge. Last week, she was unable to accompany her daughters skiing. “I stayed on the couch, too exhausted to do anything else. I'm in the middle of a relapse, as often happens. I'm doubling the doses of beta blocker to fight, but that doesn't take away the muscle and chest pain. It's an ordeal.”
It's national solidarity
“We dared to offer my client compensation of €1,328 for her damage, insists Me land. It's shameful. When we went before the administrative court, during the first hearing, the judges requested new expertise. It helped a lot and the results were clear. The moral responsibility of the state is not to leave her alone. We are now asking to land on our feet. She lost everything. His life before. His profession. It is a matter of national solidarity which is being opened and it will not be easy every day. We are now considering a call because we cannot leave my client without any resources. (A sum which would compensate for Virginie Cathala's remaining life, Editor's note). She can no longer work and her disability pension will not last.”
“Four years ago, I was asked to go. I did it. I knew that every vaccine has its share of losers. It fell on me. I do not intend to accept that all this that I planned is collapsing. I have built something stable with my husband. I have lost my health. I don't want to lose my house now, prevent my children from studying. Today, it is no longer family life that we planes I don't accept it, even if I am forced to.”
