Cedar Rapids city employee seeking Workers Comp benefits due to vaccine side effects

Hunter
05/01/24

A Cedar Rapids city employee is claiming the injuries he said came from the COVID vaccine should qualify him for Workers Compensation benefits.

Iowa Capital Dispatch reports 51-year-old Larry Driscoll was a manager in the city’s Public Works department and decided to get the Johnson & Johnson vaccine after the city began hosting vaccine clinics and sending emails and newsletters encouraging city employees to be vaccinated.

Driscoll allegedly suffered side effects from his vaccine, including fatigue, facial drooping, loss of balance, weakness, and numbness throughout his body. He filed a workers compensation claim.

The City denied the claim, stating that although they encouraged getting the vaccine, they did not require it, nor did they officer financial incentives or penalties for getting or not getting vaccinated.

Driscoll is now appealing that decision by taking the case to Polk County District Court, where he’s seeking judicial review of the matter.

Oral arguments in the case are scheduled for May 17.