Guitarist Eric Clapton revealed he suffered "disastrous" reactions to the COVID-19 vaccine. He criticized the "propaganda" for exaggerating the vaccine's safety. The information and criticism were published in a letter he sent to an anti-lockdown activist architect.
Previously, Clapton had shared his thoughts on lockdown when he participated in Van Morrison , "Stand and Deliver ," in December 2020. Two months later, the guitarist received his first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
In the letter written to Robin Monitti Graziadei , which she shared with the guitarist's permission – Rolling Stone USA confirmed the letter's authenticity – he said: “I took the first injection of AZ [AstraZeneca] and immediately had severe reactions that lasted ten days. I eventually recovered and was told that I had twelve weeks until the second [dose].”
“About six weeks later, I received an offer and took the second dose of the AZ vaccine, but with a little more knowledge of the dangers. Needless to say, the reactions were disastrous; my hands and feet were frozen, numb, or burning, and were practically useless for two weeks. I feared I would never touch them again (I suffer from peripheral neuropathy and should never have gone near a needle). But the advertisement said the vaccine was safe for everyone.”
In the letter he also said he had discovered anti-lockdown “heroes” such as politician Desmond Swayne and some YouTubers who share his mindset. “I continue to tread the path of passive rebellion and try to walk the line to be able to actively love my family, but it’s hard to bite my tongue with what I know now,” Clapton wrote.
“Then I was directed to Van Morrison; that’s when I found my voice, and although I was singing his words, they resonated in my heart,” Clapton wrote. “I recorded ‘Stand and Deliver’ in 2020 and was immediately met with disdain.”
“There are many of us who support Van [Morrison] and his efforts to save live music. He is an inspiration. We must stand up and be heard because we need to find a way out of this mess. There’s no point in thinking about alternatives. Live music may never recover.”
“I have been a rebel all my life against tyranny and arrogant authority, which is what we have now,” Clapton wrote. “But I also long for communion, compassion, and love. I believe that with these things we can prevail.”
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