Health Ministry addresses two deaths involving vaccinated individuals

The Health Ministry has responded to two deaths involving vaccinated individuals.

The first was a 78-year-old woman who tested positive for Covid-19 while in a nursing home in Kuala Lumpur.

In a statement yesterday, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya Health director Dr Param Jeeth Singh Pakar Singh said the woman got her first dose on June 8 and her second 12 weeks later on Sept 1.

On Sept 6, five days after her second jab, she tested positive for the coronavirus. 

The elderly woman was part of a nursing home cluster and had been treated at the Cheras Rehabilitation Hospital (HRC) from Sept 7 until her death on Sept 12.

Param’s statement came after the woman’s daughter lodged a police report against the ministry claiming the death had been an adverse event following immunisation (AEFI) case.

She also claimed that her mother was not properly treated by healthcare workers.

While he did not confirm nor deny the allegations, Param said the senior citizen died after her health deteriorated from Covid-19 complications.

“Geriatric medical experts referred the complainant’s mother to the HRC because she was categorised as high risk due to being over 60 years old, as well as having comorbidities and a Category 3 infection.

“The complainant’s mother was treated at HRC which is a Covid-19 hospital especially for the elderly.

“However, the woman’s health condition deteriorated as a result of Covid-19 complications and she passed away on Sept 12,” he added.

The complainant recently made a video about her mother’s death. The clip has since garnered more than 33,000 views.

Batu Pahat teenager

The second death involved a partially vaccinated 14-year-old girl from Batu Pahat, Johor.

Johor Health director Dr Aman Rabu said the teenager received her first Pfizer-BioNTech jab on Oct 3.

She was found dead in the living room at home five days later on Oct 8. Police had classified it as a “sudden death”.

Aman said the girl did not have any illnesses or allergies. Neither did she display any initial adverse reactions after receiving the vaccine.

“A post-mortem was conducted on Oct 8. External examination found the body in good condition.

“Internal examination found tumours in the ovaries and structural anomalies of the heart.

“All tissue samples from the body have been sent for further examination by a forensic pathology expert at the Sultanah Aminah Hospital in Johor Bahru,” he said, adding that results were expected between Oct 24 and 28.

Results of the multiple blood tests conducted were also pending.

Thus, Aman said that the teenager’s cause of death had yet to be determined.

“The autopsy report has been categorised as incomplete because test results have not been received yet. 

"A complete autopsy report is needed to determine her cause of death,” he added.  - Mkini