Anti-vaccine supporters of a woman denied a place on the heart transplant list over her unvaccinated status are fundraising to send her overseas for a transplant despite her quickly deteriorating health.
Vicki Derderian has been on life support since her heart failed in 2020. She claims her refusal to take a COVID-19 or flu vaccine meant she has been denied a place on the heart transplant list. Her high-profile case has become a cause célèbre of the anti-vaccine movement and has featured on mainstream media platforms such as the Today breakfast program and 2GB’s Ben Fordham Live.
Alfred Health has said that vaccination status is one factor in the decision about whether to list a patient for transplants. The Transplantation Society of Australia and New Zealand lists noncompliance with vaccination as an exclusion criteria.
Derderian appealed the decision to VCAT, advocated for by anti-vaccine former lawyer Serene Teffaha who has repeatedly launched class actions against COVID-19 restrictions. After her closing statements, however, Teffaha said Derderian is now suffering lung and kidney failure and is ineligible for a heart transplant even if the appeal was successful in VCAT.
“There is absolutely no more value for Vicki in this case so back to the drawing board for pathways forward,” Teffaha said on Telegram.
Since then, anti-vaccine advocates have come up with a new plan for Derderian: raise money for the mother of two to go to another country where she can receive a transplant while still unvaccinated.
Derderian’s supporters have begun promoting a July musical fundraiser as first noticed by Twitter account @ExposingNV. The organiser did not respond to requests for comment about the event or the likelihood that Derderian would be able to receive an overseas transplant, especially considering her failing health.
Teffaha has since updated her online followers that Derderian had returned to hospital but was hoping to be released today: “May God give us the patience to come to terms with our lot and destiny in life and in death.”
Teffaha did not respond to a request for comment.
This isn’t even unusual. Organs are given to those most likely to survive. Refusing a flu vaccine or covid vaccine directly plays into that calculation. The families of the deceased should know that everything was done to ensure the organs are not wasted
I wonder how well they’ve researched this. Is there a country that would give a heart to an unvaccinated foreigner? Hearts for transplant are very rare and sought after.
How can someone trust doctors to:
– Crack open their chest, cut out their heart and put in a donated one (from an vaccinated donor???) and sew them up safely.
– Give a range of really serious drugs during the operation and give them other really serious drugs for the rest of their life.
Yet, not trust these doctors when they say that it’s safe to have a vaccination that millions and millions of people around the world have had without issues.
Shame. Shame Shame to those antivax groups for putting such unfounded fear into a desperate woman’s mind.
Shame. Shame. Shame.
Because after transplants your immune system is practically turned off by the anti rejection drugs. Refusing vaccines beforehand is ill advised.
Nothing new under the sun – determined smokers are deemed unsuitable for lung transplants and alcoholics liver transplants.
It will be interesting to see whether an unvacinated Ms Derderian will be allowed to board a plane or disembark at the destination .