Toni Lannigan
Day 4 · September 11, 2026 · 0:21:37
Key points Toni Lannigan, now 38 and a mother of one daughter, was a nurse for ten years in acute and palliative care in Prince Edward Island before her injury. She testifies that on March 26, 2021, while on shift as a frontline worker, she received a Pfizer shot and went into anaphylaxis within five minutes. She says she required three epinephrine shots plus an IV, was transported to Charlottetown's trauma center, and woke up in the ICU after a few days. Returning to work, she developed vision impairment that lasted 11 months, with her right eye still affected, along with gait problems, falls, and severe head pressure. She says a doctor told her it was all in her head, a psychiatrist diagnosed PTSD and panic disorder but would not discuss the vaccine, and she now distrusts the system. She describes a three-year workers' compensation fight, financial clawbacks, fatigue, cognitive and speech difficulties, and being ostracized in her community. She says PEI's chief medical officer Dr. Heather Morrison publicly stated she had recovered and was fine, which she disputes, and her message to Parliament is 'Don't abandon us.'
Speaker 2
0:00 to day four in the afternoon as we finish up with our final session. 0:06 And I want to turn it over to my colleague. 0:09 Before I do, Tony, I just want to welcome you and thank you for taking the time to be here. Speaker 1
0:14 Thank you. 0:14 Appreciate it. Speaker 3
0:18 So our next witness is Tony Lanigan. 0:20 Tony, will you take the Bible in your right hand, please? 0:25 Tony Lanigan, do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, 0:30 And nothing but the truth, so help you God. Speaker 3
0:34 I'd like to introduce you to the inquiry. 0:38 But the first point I wanted to make is it's become clear reviewing your file that the doctors agree that what you're going to describe to us is vaccine injury. 0:49 And you can leave your mic on if you want. 0:52 It'll make it easier for you. Speaker 1
0:53 That's great. Speaker 3
0:55 So you're 38 years of age, which means you were 33 1:00 when these events happened. 1:03 You have one daughter, Riley, who's here with you in support. 1:08 You're now a part-time educational assistant working with students with intellectual abilities, but you were a nurse for 10 years. Speaker 1
1:17 Yes, I was a nurse assistant. Speaker 3
1:20 Right, in acute care and palliative care. 1:23 And now you can't nurse. Speaker 1
1:26 No, I cannot. Speaker 3
1:28 Prior to the vaccination, you were 1:30 Very healthy. 1:32 You did a lot of volunteering. 1:34 You coached soccer. 1:35 You were a social butterfly, and you worked 8 to 10-hour shifts on a full-time basis. Speaker 1
1:40 Yep, yep, some 12-hour shifts as well, yes. Speaker 3
1:43 And now that changed. 1:46 On March 26, 2021, you received a Pfizer shot. 1:52 Can you please tell us what happened? Speaker 1
1:54 Sure. 1:56 March 26th. 2:01 I was on shift. 2:04 I was not on, I wasn't on a break or a lunch. 2:10 I was on my time. 2:12 It was a rollout for the vaccines. 2:15 And because I was frontline, I was ready to have mine. 2:22 I walked down to a makeshift boardroom in my hospital. 2:28 to receive it. 2:32 And at 9 o'clock, I received it. 2:34 At 9.05, my body denied it. 2:38 I went into anaphylactic response. 2:43 I was sitting there. Speaker 3
2:44 And can I just slow you down? Speaker 1
2:47 Yeah, absolutely. Speaker 3
2:49 You say anaphylactic shock, and as a nurse, that means something to you. 2:53 But for the rest of us that speak the English language, they're not going to know 2:58 Your blood pressure is rapidly dropping. 3:01 Your throat and your tongue are starting to swell. 3:04 You're having difficulty breathing and then you lose consciousness. Speaker 1
3:08 Yeah. 3:10 So my first symptom was the roof of my mouth began to become itchy. 3:16 And my coworker said, stand up. 3:20 We need to go to emerge. 3:22 And I'm very lucky I didn't get this vaccine at a clinic because 3:26 because by the time I got over to eMERGE, I was only 10 or 12 feet away. 3:30 At that point, my blood pressure did drop in my heart rate. 3:36 I had not one F-ediferent shot, like an EpiPen. 3:42 I had three in total, not one, not two. 3:44 I had three, and none was helping the situation, so they gave me an IV of it. 3:51 And that was continuous until they got me stable to transport me 45 minutes away to Charlottetown QEH Trauma Center. 4:02 In trauma center, I don't recall very much from my records. 4:08 I do remember reading that once they tried to wean me down off of the epi that I began to go back into a shock response. 4:21 And after that, I woke up in ICU, intensive care unit. Speaker 3
4:28 You were there for several days, weren't you? Speaker 1
4:30 A couple of days, yeah. 4:32 And then I was released. 4:34 That sounds like it was a frightening day, but unfortunately that was not the scary part of all this. Speaker 3
4:38 But let's back up because it was a frightening day. Speaker 1
4:41 It was terrifying. Speaker 3
4:42 So can you share with us kind of what's going on with how you're experiencing it and what emotions you were feeling? Speaker 1
4:50 Well, I'm... 4:52 When I was walking down the hallway, I was texting my daughter about, like, you know, how proud and how much I loved her. 4:58 And, you know, that could have been my last text to my child. 5:02 That's my pride and joy. 5:03 So the fear was immense. 5:09 It was, yeah, I didn't know what was going to happen. Speaker 3
5:14 So just immediately, so you're on shift. 5:16 You're actually on shift, but it's like, okay, you guys go get your shot. 5:21 We've got it set up here. 5:22 You're in the hospital. 5:23 Thank goodness. 5:24 And bang, like within minutes, your life's changed. Speaker 1
5:27 Five minutes. 5:28 Five minutes is what I took. 5:29 Yeah, absolutely. 5:30 And, you know, not, yeah, not one, but three shots of epinephrine. 5:37 And then continuous. 5:38 Yeah. Speaker 3
5:38 So you're released from ICU after a few days. 5:41 Can you share with us what happened after that? Speaker 1
5:44 Yeah. 5:45 So I went home with absolutely no support. 5:47 No support. 5:48 I never had any follow-ups. 5:50 Nothing. 5:53 So I felt as a caretaker, my obligation was to go back to work. 5:58 Let's just brush this off. 6:00 Let's go back to work. 6:02 So I entered my first shift back, I don't know how many days later, and I was going to get a blood glucose at one of my patients. 6:12 And I remember looking down at the machine and I could see the machine. 6:16 I could see the shape and I could see the color. 6:19 Couldn't read the numbers. 6:21 And at this point, I realized my vision was impaired. 6:26 I went back down to the same emerge room that I was in. 6:29 And the same doctor was on call. 6:32 And from there, 11 months is how long my vision was impaired. 6:37 And to this day, my right eye is still impaired. Speaker 3
6:40 And when you say impaired, I mean, it was literally too blurry to... Speaker 1
6:45 I like, I wouldn't. 6:46 So if I close my left eye right now, um, my right eye is blurred. 6:50 I cannot read my name and I can't see your face, but that's what it was continuously for 11 months. Speaker 3
6:55 Cause I couldn't in both eyes, in both eyes, but then the one I cleared. Speaker 1
6:59 So with having that, um, my everyday life was turned upside down. 7:06 Um, I couldn't drive no more. 7:07 Obviously you wouldn't want me behind the wheel. 7:09 And I, uh, 7:12 walking like my gate was completely off my balance you can ask my family like i don't know can't count how many times i fell down my own stairs right um i couldn't read no more um i went from my bed down to the couch and at three o'clock i put on a fake smile so that way my child had to try to have a normal life again you also um Speaker 3
7:40 developed headaches. 7:41 Can you share about that with us? Speaker 1
7:43 I actually don't like the term headaches. 7:46 I call it pressure. 7:49 I have immense pressure in my brain and it forms around my right eye, my still affected eye. 7:58 I kind of just push through my days with this pressure. 8:02 It's now part of me. 8:04 I've never had any answers for it. 8:08 It's just there. Speaker 3
8:10 So five years later, they don't know why you're feeling pressure. Speaker 1
8:13 To be honest with you, I stopped going to doctors. 8:18 I stopped going. 8:20 I had one doctor say it was all in my head and turn around and give me Gabby Penton, pain meds, mental health meds. 8:28 You could see the amount of medication that I had. 8:31 Just as of recently, I took back my life, came off all my meds. 8:35 The only meds that helped me was Topamax. 8:39 That helped me get whatever site I have back today. 8:43 But I don't trust our system no more. 8:47 And I feel like a burden. 8:49 Even coming here today, I was like, maybe my story shouldn't be here. 8:57 So that's how everything made me feel. Speaker 3
9:01 I'm not supposed to be here. 9:02 I'd like to explore that a little bit. 9:04 And first of all, understand that we're very excited. Speaker 3
9:07 for you to share your story, which is why we asked you to come. 9:11 And, um, but it's intriguing that, that you've been mistreated by the medical system. 9:19 And can you share with us some examples just so that we can understand what you faced? Speaker 1
9:24 The main one was that I really sticks with me as him telling me that was all in my head. 9:29 Um, Speaker 3
9:32 Which visit was that? 9:33 Where were you in that? Speaker 1
9:35 That was a doctor in Charlottetown that was medically looking into my eyes. 9:43 So there's that. Speaker 3
9:45 So this is when you can't see out of both eyes? Speaker 1
9:48 Yes, this is both. 9:49 I left his practice that day and I never returned. Speaker 3
9:53 Right. 9:53 But I'm just trying to understand. 9:55 So 9:56 You can't see. 9:57 You're basically now disabled. 10:00 You're functionally blind. Speaker 1
10:03 Yeah, but no one would have said that. Speaker 3
10:06 And you have an eye doctor telling you that it's all in your head. Speaker 1
10:11 Yes, I did. 10:13 I had a psychiatrist that said, I don't know if it's appropriate to say, but said to me, like, shit happens, we move on. 10:26 diagnosed me with PTSD, panic disorders, but told me to move on. 10:33 And never talked to me about it. 10:34 Like that was taboo. 10:36 We're not going to talk about that. 10:36 We're just going to talk about everything else except for the vaccine. Speaker 3
10:41 Okay. 10:41 So I didn't realize this went into psychiatry also, that they're not allowed to talk. 10:47 So you're diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. Speaker 1
10:51 Yes. 10:51 And panic disorders. 10:53 And a lot of. Speaker 3
10:54 you are getting treatment by a psychiatrist that is being paid to basically address the mental difficulties that you're having. Speaker 3
11:05 And not addressing them at the same time, but you can't really talk about what is the most stressful part of your life. Speaker 3
11:17 Which then actually makes it worse. Speaker 1
11:19 Sure does. 11:22 Yeah. 11:22 Um, 11:24 So, yeah, there was that. 11:25 But then I was also trying, you know, I wasn't working, so I had to try with workers' comp. 11:34 It took me three years to go through that court procedure. 11:41 And the reason behind why I wasn't going to be compensated was because my employer did not expect me to get the vaccine. 11:49 I worked for Health PEI. 11:53 And I was, and the reason why I wasn't compensated was because they did not expect me to get it. 11:59 Would I have had a job if I said no? Speaker 3
12:04 Right. 12:04 Okay. 12:04 So they're playing the game. 12:05 So you have to, you're going to be sent home without pay if you don't get it, but because you could be sent home without pay, then you didn't need to get it. 12:15 So it's not a work requirement and therefore you don't get workers' compensation. Speaker 1
12:21 Now, 12:22 On the flip side, I did win that case. 12:25 What did it get me? 12:27 Nothing. 12:28 I actually went back to school, like you said, found a new passion because I was really passionate working at the hospital. 12:35 So I found a new passion in working at the school system, advocating for people that can't advocate for themselves. 12:43 But so what did they do? 12:46 They gave me money to pay back my disability because disability cut me off. 12:52 disability wanted their money back. 12:54 So the money went to them, but they made me tax that money. 12:58 So this year I have no child tax support because I make too much money, but I never, it was just money I had to pay back. Speaker 3
13:08 And I just want to make sure I understand. 13:09 So you're getting disability insurance, but you don't have to pay tax on that. 13:13 Or did you have, did you have to pay tax on disability? Speaker 3
13:17 Okay. 13:17 So you're paying tax on that. 13:19 And then you get, 13:22 workers' compensation, but you have to pay that all back to the disability people. Speaker 1
13:27 Yeah, yeah. 13:29 And so I have summers off. 13:32 That's a perk, I guess, working in school education. 13:36 But I have to go through EI in summers because we don't work there. 13:40 But, yeah, if I was still nursing or if I was still at the hospital, like, I'd still be making money. 13:46 I'd still be working, but they don't want to compensate that either. Speaker 3
13:49 Right, okay. Speaker 3
13:51 I want to go through some of your physical experience again. 13:54 My understanding is that you've developed really severe fatigue. 13:59 Can you talk to us about it, that and how it is today? Speaker 1
14:02 Yeah. 14:04 So in the beginning, like I said, I went from the bed to the couch. 14:10 I tried to live normally because my daughter was watching. 14:14 But, you know, that was really exhausting. 14:16 I was hard to my body ached. 14:18 My head was constantly with the pressure. 14:20 And I was fatigued. 14:21 I was always tired, always tired. 14:24 And today I still have a fatigue. 14:26 I fight it. 14:30 But it's still currently there. 14:31 I just. Speaker 3
14:33 In fact, in an earlier interview, you shared with me that some days even showering might be a challenge. Speaker 1
14:40 Yeah. 14:41 Yeah, absolutely. 14:42 But I know sometimes I relate that to the mental health aspect, too. 14:45 You know, like there's that and then. 14:50 just every day. 14:51 Yeah. 14:52 Like I, I can't, I had difficulties going out in public because we're scrutinized in the public. 15:01 You know, I was a taboo subject. 15:02 So going to the stores, the grocery shop, I was terrified. 15:06 Um, it took me a long time to go back by myself. 15:09 I still don't really go grocery shopping by myself. 15:11 I have my daughter, you know, I have my support and Speaker 3
15:16 So when you say it's taboo, you mean within your community because you're vaccine injured? Speaker 3
15:21 You're ostracized? Speaker 1
15:24 Yeah. 15:24 I had support. 15:26 Like, you know, there's some people that absolutely stood behind me in support, but no one wanted to talk about it. 15:31 It was like, well, we support her. 15:32 We have sympathy, but they didn't want to talk about it. 15:36 I lost friends. 15:38 I didn't. 15:40 Yeah. Speaker 3
15:43 You're also effectively 15:45 affected cognitively. 15:47 Can you share with us about that? Speaker 1
15:49 Yeah, I have a hard time articulating myself. 15:52 I mean, I might sound okay right now. 15:54 Some days I have a lot of brain fog, so things don't come clearly to me. 16:00 My speech sometimes is completely off. 16:03 I'll stutter, I'll stammer. 16:05 I'll try to find a word. 16:06 I tried practicing a couple of words in the bathroom earlier because I'm like, oh, what if I can't say it? Speaker 3
16:13 And again, so I just want people to understand what you're saying. 16:16 So you've lost the ability sometimes to speak clearly. Speaker 1
16:21 Completely. 16:21 Yeah. 16:22 And I never was like this before. 16:24 You can ask anybody. 16:25 I was a chatterbox, social. 16:27 I love being around people. 16:29 I can't go in crowds. 16:30 It was really hard to come here today. Speaker 1
16:33 I walked in this building and I had a panic attack. 16:38 And so when I get worked up, it gets really tight around my chest. 16:43 And that's just like my anaphylaxis, like kind of like revolving for me. 16:47 It brings me back to that day. Speaker 3
16:53 Well, again, you know, appreciate you coming. Speaker 1
16:56 Yes, thank you. Speaker 3
16:57 And this was important for you too, wasn't it? Speaker 1
17:00 Yes, it's very important. 17:02 Like I like, I want to advocate for people, but I never advocated for myself because it was hard. 17:08 But I want my daughter to see that, you know, no matter what, 17:12 You've got to speak up for yourself. 17:15 You've got to be heard. 17:16 And maybe after this week, maybe after this week we can be heard. Speaker 3
17:26 Yeah, that's the goal. 17:29 I'll just have one more question for you, Michelle. 17:32 What would your message to Parliament be if all of Parliament was listening to you? Speaker 1
17:36 It doesn't have to be perfect. 17:40 Just do something. 17:43 Yep. 17:44 Don't abandon us. Speaker 2
17:51 Tony, thank you so much for being here. 17:54 We really appreciate it. 17:55 And as a first line responder, we appreciate what you've done. Speaker 1
18:01 I love my community. 18:02 It's so important. 18:04 I loved it. Speaker 2
18:04 Our nurses, our nurses actually 18:07 are the ones on the front lines. 18:08 Don't tell the doctor next to you that. 18:11 No, all kidding. 18:14 You know, you guys perform a great function. 18:16 And I understand as, you know, you feel like you put yourself out in the community, well-respected, you know, people love what you do. 18:25 And now you're not able to do what you've always done. Speaker 1
18:27 No. 18:29 Yeah, like my identity was that's what I was. 18:32 I was a good mom. 18:33 I was great in my community. 18:37 I lost that that day, but I didn't let it take it. 18:41 You know, I didn't, I was saying to some of the vaccine survivors here too, that I stopped letting it consume me. 18:49 So I'm back out there. 18:54 I found a passion and I'm working with youth that can't, you know, always advocate for themselves. 19:00 What a better way to be in your community and then do that. 19:04 So I love my job again. 19:05 I miss my old job. 19:07 I'd love to go back. 19:08 Like, you know, why didn't they ease me back into it? 19:11 There was nothing. 19:12 I lost my job. 19:14 I didn't leave my job. 19:15 Lost it. Speaker 2
19:17 And now you, as we, what we're trying to do is give people permission to speak publicly about these injuries. 19:26 So we hope that not only all the people that are here, but everyone in this country, members of parliament, 19:33 and start talking about this thing in a more public way, right? 19:36 Because there's no way we can resolve any kind of resolution if we're not allowed to talk about these things, right? Speaker 1
19:42 Yes, exactly. 19:44 And I appreciate you for doing this. Speaker 2
19:47 We're going to keep talking about it. 19:48 We're not going to stop now. 19:52 I appreciate your daughter being here today. 19:54 Thanks so much. Speaker 1
19:56 I appreciate it. 19:56 I needed it. Speaker 2
19:57 No kidding. 19:58 But, you know, talk to me about the relationship with your family. Speaker 1
20:02 Yeah, no. 20:03 She's my best friend. 20:05 I'll say this, and this is vulnerable for me to say, but I wouldn't be here if I didn't have her. 20:10 I wouldn't have went through all this. 20:12 It would have been too hard. 20:14 So she's my reason. Speaker 2
20:16 And it sounds like you've got a good support at home. Speaker 1
20:18 I do. 20:20 I really do. Speaker 2
20:21 That's awesome. Speaker 2
20:24 Well, Toni, thank you once again. 20:26 We really appreciate you taking the time to be here. 20:30 And like I said, you thought at times you didn't want to be here, but your testimony is so important. 20:35 And it's so important for everybody else to hear what you have to say. 20:39 So thank you so much. 20:40 Thank you. Speaker 3
20:42 Can I just add one thing? 20:44 So here you are, you've had the anaphylactic shock, but that was just the beginning. 20:50 Yeah. 20:51 You're basically disabled. 20:54 And the public health officer of your province... 20:58 Heather Morrison says publicly that you recovered and we're okay. 21:01 Not naming you by name, but everyone knew they were talking about you. 21:06 No, no, she's fine. Speaker 1
21:08 Yeah, there's an adverse reaction. 21:10 They talked about it and they said that she's home, recovering and fine. 21:15 Dr. Heather Morrison, I reached out to you. 21:18 Dennis King, I reached out to you. 21:20 I wasn't fine. 21:21 And you never responded back to me. Speaker 3
21:24 And they never corrected the lie. 21:27 The public lie. Speaker 3
21:30 Thank you. 21:30 It's just been a pleasure having you here. Speaker 1
21:32 Thank you so much.