MOH Addresses The Deaths Of 2 People Post COVID-19 Vaccination
One of the victims, an elderly woman, had co-morbidities and was suffering from category three of the COVID-19 infection, while an autopsy on the second victim, a teenager, found tumours in the ovaries and structural anomalies of the heart.
By Sadho Ram — 24 Oct 2021, 11:49 AM
A 14-year-old teenager from Batu Pahat, Johor, died on 8 October, five days after receiving her first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Before that, a 78-year-old woman in a nursing home in Kuala Lumpur died on 12 September. She received her second dose on 1 September.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) has now responded to the two deaths.
According to Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya Federal Territories Health Department director Datuk Dr P Param Jeeth Singh Pakar Singh, the death of the elderly woman was due to a COVID-19 infection.
He said that the woman got her first dose on 8 June ad her second dose 12 weeks later on 1 September. Following which, on 6 September, five days after her second jab, she tested positive for COVID-19.
She was then referred to the Cheras Rehabilitation Hospital (HRC) because she was considered as high-risk as she was over 60 years old with co-morbidities and suffering from category three of the COVID-19 infection (having pneumonia), Param Jeeth stated, adding that she died on 12 September.
"The victim was treated at HRC which is a hospital designated to treat COVID-19 patients among the elderly. However, her health deteriorated due to complications of COVID-19 infection," he said.
The statement addressing the woman's death comes after her daughter lodged a police report against MOH and took to social media to claim that her mother's death was due to the vaccine's side effects
She also claimed that her mother was not properly treated by healthcare workers.
Param Jeeth, while addressing the woman's death, did not confirm nor deny the allegations.
He explained that the COVID-19 transmission at the nursing home, where the woman lived, started when one of its employees tested positive on 4 September after experiencing symptoms.
The next day, an 87-year-old resident who had no history of COVID-19 vaccination died.
"Cheras Health Office was informed of this matter on 6 September, and further investigation and case detection has identified 11 COVID-19 cases among the residents, three of whom have never received the vaccine and four cases among its employees," he was quoted as saying by Bernama.
Meanwhile, addressing the death of the teenager, Johor Health director Dr Aman Rabu said she was given her first Pfizer-BioNTech jab on 3 October and that she did not display any initial adverse reactions
According to Aman, the girl did not have any illnesses or allergies, and her health status after the vaccination was said to be good, with no fever, flu, joint aches, or difficulty in breathing.
She was found dead by her mother in their living room on 8 October.
Batu Pahat police investigation officer then brought her body to the Forensics Unit at Sultanah Nora Ismail Hospital (HSNI), Batu Pahat, and classified the case as "sudden death".
"The hospital received an application for autopsy by Batu Pahat police. The HSNI medical officer in an interview with the teenager's next-of-kin showed that she had no diseases nor allergies," he said.
While external examination showed the body in good condition, an internal examination found tumours in the ovaries and heart anomaly
Aman said that tissue samples from the body of the deceased have also been sent to the forensic pathology specialists at Sultanah Aminah Hospital in Johor Bahru to obtain more information.
"Further test results are expected to be out between 24 and 28 October," he said, adding 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 said in a statement.
This comes after UMNO supreme council member and former Batu Pahat member of Parliament (MP) Puad Zarkashi questioned the teenager's death urged the ministry to release the post-mortem results.
Remember to limit your movement and keep practising physical distancing. Find out the latest COVID-19 updates on the Ministry of Health's COVIDNOW website.
