Adverse COVID-19 Vaccine Reaction Recognised as Workplace Accident in Teacher’s Case

 

Vaccination as Part of Professional Duty

The events date back to 2021, when a primary school teacher was vaccinated against COVID-19 in accordance with the protocol of the Junta de Castilla y León. Following the doses, the worker began to experience several debilitating symptoms, including fever, fatigue, arm pain, and sensory disturbances in her legs that prevented her from driving.

The ruling establishes a direct causal link between the vaccine and the symptoms, emphasising the absence of prior medical conditions and the fact that the vaccination took place as part of her duties as an essential education worker.

Legal Argument: The Work-Related Nature of Vaccination

The key legal point was the argument raised by the teacher’s lawyer, Francesc Feliu, who stressed that the vaccination was not a personal choice, but a requirement stemming from her status as an essential public employee, according to the Strategic Vaccination Plan approved in December 2020.

This plan prioritised education professionals to ensure the right to education during the health emergency. As such, the vaccination should be considered a professional and social obligation, not a personal, unrelated act.

Additionally, the defence argued that the vaccination qualifies as a form of "rescue act" undertaken for the benefit of the population, supported by the principles of solidarity and reciprocity that underpinned the nationwide campaign.

Relevance of the Judgment and Its Implications

Although the judgment can still be appealed, it has generated considerable interest due to its potential as a precedent. The legal team is already handling around 70 similar claims from other essential workers—such as healthcare professionals, police officers, firefighters, and military personnel.

These decisions are crucial to establishing legal boundaries around professional obligations during a public health crisis and ensuring protection for those whose health has been affected while fulfilling their duties.

What’s Next?

The outcome of these legal cases will be key in shaping case law on vaccine-related effects in the workplace. In the meantime, affected professionals should seek legal advice and prepare the necessary medical and employment documentation.

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