Interview with Charlet Crichton, founder of UKCVFamily

Summary

UKCVFamily was set up in November 2021 to support patients in the UK who have had an adverse reaction to a Covid-19 vaccination. The group provides help and advocacy as well as raising awareness amongst healthcare professionals, the media and the Government.

In this video, founder of UKCVFamily Charlet Crichton talks to us about the side effects she experienced after having the AstraZeneca Covid vaccine. She outlines why she established the group and describes the support it offers to patients. She outlines some of the issues people face when trying to access diagnosis and treatment, and discusses the limitations of the MHRA's Yellow Card scheme in collecting data about adverse reactions. She also describes how healthcare professionals can support people with adverse reactions by taking their concerns seriously and investigating symptoms thoroughly.

Content

About the author

Charlet Crichton is the founder of UKCVFamily, the largest support and advocacy group in the UK for people who have had an adverse reaction or bereavement due to Covid-19 vaccination. UKCVFamily is a designated Core Participant in the UK's Covid-19 Public Inquiry. Charlet was diagnosed with an adverse reaction to a Covid vaccine in 2021. She is a patient representative and collaborates with academics studying all aspects of Covid-19 vaccine adverse reactions, with a particular focus on patient advocacy.