A Crossfield, Alta. family is threatening legal action against Olds College and Rexal Pharmacy for administering a COVID-19 vaccine to their special needs daughter without consent..Ryan Gassner spoke exclusively with the Western Standard about their daughter’s experience in September and asked that her name not be used to protect her identity..“My daughter is enrolled in a transition-to-employment program at Olds College,” said Gassner of his 18-year-old daughter who suffers from epilepsy and has developmental delays..“We have full guardianship of her which is essentially the same as if she were under 18.”.The family enrolled their daughter in the one-year program out of Olds College in August..“It’s really a great program for kids with challenging futures. It really prepares them to be self-sufficient. She lives with a roommate who is also her care provider and attends her classes at the college every day,” said Gassner, who added his daughter functions at “approximately an 11-year-old cognitive level.”.Gassner said his daughter suffers from a number of severe allergies and, although she has had most of her childhood vaccines, “we had to avoid several of them because of her risk of anaphylaxis and the ingredients in those vaccines.”.Because of his daughter’s risk of reaction to other vaccines, Gassner said their family doctor was in the process of preparing a medical exemption for the COVID-19 vaccine and had an appointment booked with the doctor for September 25..As the college implemented a mandatory vaccination policy as of September 20 with the option for rapid testing every 72 hours, Gassner and his wife, Brandy, had made arrangements to take their daughter from Olds to Airdrie for rapid testing twice a week..“We didn’t even hear about this from the college. We heard about the vaccine policy from our daughter’s caretaker who forwarded the e-mail to us a few days before the policy was being put in place,” said Gassner..“We told our daughter we would get her rapid tested for her to attend school the next week and planned to pick her up on Monday to take her to Airdrie for a rapid test.”.“That Sunday morning she went to the college and, when she entered, they asked if she was vaccinated and she said ‘no.’ She didn’t understand and had no concept of what they were requesting of her.”.Gassner said, according to his daughter, one of her coaches advised her to go to the pharmacy to get vaccinated so she could access the school. He and his wife learned of their daughter’s inoculation the next day in text communications..“On Sunday I got my first shot and the rapid one is tomorrow. I had to get it if I wanted to go to class yesterday. It was a big needle that they put in my arm,” the daughter texted her mother..“She doesn’t know the difference between the vaccine and rapid testing. She thinks they are the same thing,” said Gassner..Gassner and his wife were “taken aback” by the news, citing in their legal letter the “gross negligence of the program directors to inform the guardians directly of the policy changes and to reach out and get direct consent from us.”.“I mean, we had to sign a waiver for her to use the pool on campus, so they were aware of our full guardianship,” said Gassner..Gassner said his daughter was only asked for her healthcare card at the pharmacy and did not have to produce any other identification..The Western Standard spoke with Tony Lee, a pharmacist at the Rexall pharmacy in Olds where Gassner’s daughter was vaccinated..“We make sure the person understands the procedure they are receiving and if we believe they are understanding and have agreed to the procedure, we consider that consent,” said Lee, adding they don’t ask for age or additional identification beyond an Alberta healthcare number..The vaccine appears to be having ill effects on his daughter, the dad said..“Thankfully, our daughter did not suffer an anaphylactic reaction to the shot but since the vaccine, everything has gone completely upside down with her,” said Glassner..“When she was diagnosed with epilepsy seven years ago, with the proper medication we were able to completely stop her seizures. She’s been seven years now without one seizure.”.Since the vaccine, his daughter has now had “two confirmed grand mal seizures” — which cause a loss of consciousness and violent muscle contractions — and additional, less severe seizures..“Our family doctor referred us to a neurologist who told us that ‘logically speaking, something has changed,’ but won’t link it to the vaccine,” said Gassner..Gassner said since the vaccine, his daughter’s cognitive abilities have “crumbled,” she’s having difficulty attending classes and staying awake and said her conversation skills are now comparable to “a full-blown dementia patient.”.Seeking legal support, Gassner and his wife contacted Airdrie lawyer Derek From with WKA Lawyers..A legal letter was drafted and sent to Olds College and Rexall Pharmacy Group Ltd. claiming the daughter was “compelled under duress to take a COVID-19 vaccination against her will,” and contrary to the parent’s wishes..The letter calls the actions taken by the college and pharmacy “negligent and reckless battery” and could be considered a “criminal assault.”.“We aren’t out to make a buck in this,” said Gassner..“Basically, we are asking for an apology from the college and assurances they will take guardianship seriously in the future for us and for other students in the same situation.”.The family is also asking for written assurance that no health-care decision will be made for their daughter without their knowledge and consent, that “unconsented to and unsolicited COVID-19 vaccination” will not be administered to anyone on campus again and their legal fees are covered..“All we’ve heard so far from the college is that they’ve received the letter and are investigating. They have until November 15 to respond and if they don’t, we will look at moving forward with criminal charges,” said Gassner..Gassner said he and his wife want to bring attention to this situation so other parents and guardians are aware of the dangers that can happen and ensure guardian and parental rights are respected and protected..“We don’t want to bring charges forward, but we want to make sure this doesn’t happen to anyone else in a similar situation,” said Gassner..“It’s not an understatement that this was a major risk placed on the health of our daughter for no reason, as another solution was available and being adhered to.” .The Western Standard reached out to Olds College for comment but did not hear back in time for publishing..Melanie Risdon is a reporter with the Western Standard.,.mrisdon@westernstandardonline.com
