Woman with rare disease claims she is now blind and bruised after doctors forced her to take 3 shots

A 23-year-old Florida woman has been temporarily blinded and bruised after allegedly being required to receive multiple shots before a blood transfusion for a rare autoimmune disorder.

Alexis Lorenze was diagnosed with Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH) in January.

The extremely rare condition affects approximately one in a million people, causing the immune system to attack and destroy red blood cells.

Earlier this month, Lorenze reportedly traveled to California for a transfusion to replenish her damaged blood cells.

Upon her arrival at UCI Medical, she claims doctors informed her that she could not receive the transfusion unless she first received the tetanus, pneumonia and meningitis vaccines, all administered at the same time.

She said that within 10 minutes of the vaccinations, she began experiencing alarming symptoms: her vision darkened in both eyes, her jaw clenched, she started vomiting and her body was swollen and bruised.

Medical experts have expressed concern about the potential risks of administering multiple vaccines at the same time, especially in patients with autoimmune conditions such as PNH as these patients may have heightened immune responses, leading to severe complications.

One such complication, cytokine storms, can cause the body to attack its own healthy tissues and organs. It can be life-threatening and lead to irreversible damage.

“While it is usually safe for most people to receive these vaccines together, in her case, the immune response may have been excessive and lead to complications,” told the Daily Mail Dr. Raj Dasgupta, chief medical advisor for Fortune Recommends Health.

“To avoid overloading her system, it would be prudent to space out the vaccines and monitor her closely for any worsening symptoms.”

Doctors have suggested that the vaccines themselves are unlikely to be the direct cause of Lorenze’s severe reactions, they suggested that her PNH condition may have been unstable and the vaccines may have caused a flare or allergic reaction.

“There is also the possibility that what she is experiencing is not just from the vaccines,” said Dr. Dasgupta.

“PNH can turn on itself, and we need to examine whether the condition itself is behind its severe reaction. Both factors (her PNH and vaccines) need to be weighed carefully when looking at what is going on.”

Lorenze’s case has sparked significant debate, particularly about the hospital’s supposed rationale for requiring the vaccinations so urgently.

Meningitis and pneumonia vaccines are often recommended for certain high-risk groups, including those undergoing immunotherapy, as they become more susceptible to infection. However, some medical experts questioned whether the vaccines were really necessary before her transfusion.

In a series of viral TikTok videos, Lorenze claimed that she had not received any vaccinations since childhood. Her family has claimed that the hospital insisted that vaccinations were mandatory for the transfusion, but some experts argue that this is not a standard requirement.

Lorenze’s family is now looking to transfer her to a private hospital in Los Angeles for further treatment as she continues to experience pain and swelling.