The patient refused a heart transplant because he was not vaccinated

According to the family, the 31-year-old father was removed from the heart transplant list at a Boston hospital because he refused to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

DJ Ferguson was on the first list of transplants at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, but was disqualified due to vaccination status. CBS Boston reported..

His father, David Ferguson, said his son, who was fighting for his life in the hospital and was in desperate need of a transplant, did not believe in the COVID-19 vaccine.

“It’s against his basic principles and he doesn’t believe it. It’s the policy they’re implementing and he’s not shot, so they removed him from the list of heart transplants. “David told the outlet.

“The COVID-19 vaccine has several vaccines and lifestyle behaviors needed for transplant candidates for the Mass General Brigam System to create both the best opportunities for successful surgery and the survival of patients after transplantation. It’s one, “says the hospital. statement.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also recommends that immunocompromised people, including organ transplant recipients, be vaccinated because they are particularly vulnerable to COVID.

Ferguson’s family is thinking of moving him to another hospital that doesn’t have a vaccination policy, but he’s afraid he’s already too weak to move.

“We are actively pursuing all options, but we are short of time,” said David.

The family said the care they had received at Brigham and Women’s Hospital was excellent, but his relatives cannot ignore Ferguson’s beliefs.

“I think my boy is fighting with great courage. I respect him more and more because he has integrity and the principles he really believes in,” David said. rice field. “It’s his body. It’s his choice.”

Ferguson has been hospitalized since November since his lungs began to fill with blood and fluids due to hereditary heart problems, the GoFundMe page says.

Fundraising said his resistance to the vaccine was also related to him Fear of heart inflammationIn rare cases, health officials have stated that they are associated with shots.

“But for DJs, he can’t afford to swell his heart any more than it is now. If so, he’s at very high risk of sudden death,” Page said.

“We had a lot of conversations with doctors who confirmed that his heart was swollen and could be in serious danger, but they couldn’t guarantee anything and if he wanted to go public, he would do it. Must be selected. “

According to the site, self-employed Ferguson and his partner Heather have been unable to work since he was hospitalized.

It wasn’t immediately clear what Ferguson did to make a living, but the site said his “work requires a lot of manual labor.”

Ferguson is not the first patient to be refused a transplant because of his vaccination status.

Colorado female Leilani Rutari Removed from kidney transplant list in October Because she and her donor were not vaccinated.

UC Health, which operates hospitals and emergency medical facilities throughout Colorado, said the COVID vaccine is one of several steps patients need to take to maximize the chances of organ rejection. Said.

The health system said the driving force behind vaccine policy is a study showing that transplant patients are more likely to die if infected with COVID-19. According to UCHealth, the mortality rate of transplant patients infected with COVID is more than 20%.

“Organ transplantation is a unique surgery that leads to a lifelong professional management to prevent organ rejection and can lead to serious complications, the need for subsequent transplant surgery, and even death.” UC Health told The Post. time.

“Physicians need to consider the patient’s short-term and long-term health risks when considering whether to recommend an organ transplant.”

Ohio man Mike Gannin vaccinated with COVID Refused kidney transplant in October last year Because his donor hadn’t received her shot.

“I don’t want to get vaccinated. I have a reason — medical, religious, and also free,” said donor Sue George. Told to WKYC..