Danielle Pieton is a British woman who was once very fit and active. In her late 40s, she was a keen road cyclist and had just moved to France to begin a new chapter in her life.
In early 2022, she received the Moderna Covid vaccine. She says that within hours, she became seriously unwell. She was taken to hospital with heart problems and spent weeks in intensive care. Doctors later fitted her with a permanent pacemaker.
After leaving hospital, her recovery was slow. She says she struggled to walk and felt constantly dizzy and exhausted. Years later, she still reports ongoing symptoms such as fatigue, breathlessness, chest discomfort, and balance problems. Doctors have told her she has Post Vaccine Syndrome, a condition that currently has no clear treatment.
Before this, she had received two Pfizer vaccines without any side effects. Since becoming ill, she has gone through many medical tests and long periods of rehabilitation. She can now walk short distances and ride an electric bike, but says some days are still very difficult.
Health experts stress that Covid vaccines have saved millions of lives worldwide. At the same time, researchers at Yale University and other institutions say more research is needed into rare, long-term symptoms reported by a small number of people. Pieton says she is learning to live within her limits and focus on the best quality of life she can manage.