Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has acknowledged a second case where a direct causal link between a COVID-19 vaccine and a fatality appears “undeniable.” This rare incident involved a previously healthy teenager who died following her third dose of Pfizer’s mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.
The teenager received her vaccination in August and developed a fever the next day, which subsided by the evening. However, she later experienced breathing difficulties and was subsequently found unresponsive by her family. Forty-five hours post-vaccination, she was declared deceased.
An autopsy, requested by the Tokushima prefectural police and conducted by a research team from Tokushima University, revealed inflammation in multiple organs, including the heart and lungs. Hideyuki Nushida, an associate professor of forensic medicine at the university, was involved in the autopsy and noted these findings.
The rapid onset of the teenager’s symptoms post-vaccination, along with similar cases within and outside Japan, led an expert committee from the Ministry to conclude that the likely cause of death was myopericarditis, an inflammation of the heart, triggered by the vaccine.
Despite this conclusion, the Ministry’s panel emphasized that the overall vaccination program should not cause undue concern. They advised the public to seek immediate medical attention if they experience symptoms like chest pain or breathing difficulties after vaccination.
Nushida highlighted the inherent risks associated with any medication, stating the importance of ongoing investigation into the COVID-19 vaccines, which utilize the novel mRNA technology, differing from traditional vaccines.
As of April 30, there have been 2,076 reported deaths potentially related to the COVID-19 vaccine, with the frequency of these events varying by vaccine type. The reported rate is approximately one to nine deaths per million vaccinations.
Before this incident, the only other case in Japan where a vaccination-related death was deemed “undeniable” involved a 42-year-old woman from Aichi Prefecture. For the majority of the reported deaths (99.4%), a causal link could not be established due to insufficient information. In 0.5% of the cases, or 11 instances, no causal relationship with the vaccine was identified.