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A Canadian woman who testified about her COVID-19 vaccine injury says she was dismissed by 23 doctors before finally finding support outside the country — an experience that ultimately led her to help create a Canadian organization for others suffering from similar injuries.

I spoke with Julie Woods following her testimony at the Allison Inquiry, where Canadians were given a platform to provide sworn testimony about injuries that followed COVID-19 vaccination.

Julie Woods Shares Her Story

Julie Woods experienced the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic almost immediately. She is also the co-founder of CanRise19, a community supporting Canadians affected by COVID-19 vaccine injury.

After sustaining her vaccine injury, Julie… pic.twitter.com/lh1qxzh4x3

— Allison Inquiry (@AllisonInquiry) September 10, 2026

Woods said she was repeatedly told by doctors that her symptoms were psychiatric.

“I had been told by 23 different doctors in Canada that it was all in my head, that I was crazy, and that this was a psychiatric issue,” she said.

Julie Woods experienced the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic almost immediately.

After sustaining her vaccine injury, Julie describes being abandoned—not only by the medical system, but also by many of the people she considered her closest friends.@AllisonInquiry pic.twitter.com/n5Hmd2FNED

— Dean Allison (@DeanAllisonMP) September 10, 2026

After reaching the point where she began questioning herself, Woods said she made one final attempt to find help online and discovered React19, a U.S.-based organization supporting people reporting COVID-19 vaccine injuries.

Through its emotional support program, Woods connected with other Canadians and Americans experiencing similar problems. She eventually began volunteering with React19 and later met Michelle Worton, with whom she co-founded CANrise19 Advocacy Society, a registered Canadian non-profit.

Woods said CANrise19 provides physical and emotional support to Canadians who are vaccine-injured or bereaved, as well as support groups for their family members. The organization hopes eventually to provide financial assistance for medical and mental-health expenses.

According to Woods, many injured Canadians have been forced to pay out of pocket or travel to the United States for assessments and treatment. “Healthcare in Canada is supposed to be free, but for our population, it’s not,” she said.

Despite her experience, Woods said CANrise19 wants to work with the Canadian government rather than against it. The organization has reached out to the Public Health Agency of Canada and MPs seeking a seat at the table.

For Julie Woods, one of the hardest parts of advocating for vaccine-injured Canadians is hearing from people who say they are exhausted after years of fighting to be heard and struggling to access the care they need.

Now, Julie is preparing to bring those experiences to the… pic.twitter.com/tdEAG0RVwr

— React19 - Official (@React19org) September 7, 2026

For Woods, accountability means helping those already affected while trying to prevent others from going through the same experience.

“What’s done is done. What’s happened has happened,” she said. “How do we help those who have already been impacted, and how do we prevent this from impacting more people in the future?”