Stephen Ward passed away less than a fortnight after getting the coronavirus jab created at Oxford University, according to information provided by his spouse Sheila Ward.

Mr Ward, who was 57 and lived in Staffordshire, was taken to hospital ten days after receiving the Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine in 2021. He displayed signs consistent with a stroke, including difficulties with speech and weakness affecting his arms and legs.

Medical staff discovered that Mr Ward had developed a blood clot, and teams fought hard to preserve his life. Nevertheless, the following day, his relatives were advised that the bleeding was beyond what could be managed and that his chances of recovery were nil. The decision was subsequently made to disconnect his life support.

It was almost twelve months before a coroner concluded that his death was linked to complications arising from vaccination, with Mrs Ward subsequently becoming associated with the Vaccine Injured and Bereaved UK group.

The organisation has been pushing for modifications to the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme, which at present offers a single lump sum of £120,000 to those who qualify.

Boris Johnson toured the Oxford vaccination centre during the health crisis while he was Prime Minister.

These demands have been given added weight by the recently published pandemic inquiry report, in which the inquiry’s chair Baroness Heather Hallett characterised the scheme as lacking sufficient support and called for immediate changes.

Lady Hallett remarked that a number of individuals had unfortunately experienced harm caused by receiving a vaccine. She pushed for raising the minimum payment, which had not been revised since 2007, pointing out that the existing figure is inadequate.

The report suggests linking the payment to inflation, which would increase it beyond £200,000, with subsequent rises also tied to inflation. Additionally, Lady Hallett wants a more equitable approach to determining who qualifies for payments.

In December 2020, the jab received approval as the second coronavirus vaccine available in Britain, with Mr Johnson describing it as a remarkable achievement for British scientific research.

The AstraZeneca coronavirus jab, also marketed as Vaxzevria, was discontinued in May 2024.

AstraZeneca stated that they extend their condolences to anyone who has experienced bereavement or health issues related to their products. They emphasised that patient safety remains their primary concern. According to them, evidence from clinical studies and real-world data demonstrates that the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine has consistently maintained a satisfactory safety record, and regulatory authorities worldwide have consistently concluded that the advantages of immunisation outweigh the risks of very uncommon potential adverse effects. They expressed deep pride in the contribution the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine made to ending the worldwide pandemic. Independent calculations suggest that more than six million lives were preserved during the initial year of its use, with over three billion doses administered globally. They noted that governments around the world have recognised their efforts and acknowledged these as vital in concluding the global health emergency.