[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] Among the reported deaths following AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccination, there have been no cases so far where causality with the vaccine has been recognized, according to investigation results. Additionally, in the case of a healthcare worker in their 20s who was reported to have developed thrombosis after vaccination, it was concluded that causality with the vaccine is difficult to establish.
Kim Jung-gon, head of the Vaccination Damage Investigation Team, stated at the regular briefing of the Central Disease Control Headquarters on the 12th, "We held the 6th meeting on the 9th to review reports of severe adverse reactions including deaths," and added, "We reviewed 11 death cases and judged, based on the data collected and analyzed so far, that the possibility of death due to other causes is higher and the association with the vaccine is low."
However, for three cases currently undergoing autopsy, it was decided to re-discuss the review results once the final autopsy reports are available.
Kim said, "We also reviewed a total of four severe reported cases, and causality was recognized in only one case, while the others were not."
The one case where causality was recognized involved a man in his 20s, Mr. A, a first responder to COVID-19, who was diagnosed with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) after experiencing severe headaches three days post-vaccination last month.
Kim explained, "In this case, although thrombosis was present in the cerebral venous sinus, it was not accompanied by thrombocytopenia, so it did not match the thrombosis cases with thrombocytopenia recently presented by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). However, considering that the patient had no underlying diseases, no tendency for thrombosis was found in tests, and the disease is very rare, we recognized the possibility of occurrence due to vaccination."
Mr. A has since recovered, been discharged, and reportedly returned to work.
Kim further explained, "Among the other three severe reported cases, a man in his 20s who showed neurological symptoms such as lower limb muscle weakness 10 hours after vaccination was suspected of having a spinal cord disease, but the possibility of onset due to causes other than the vaccine was evaluated as higher." He also said, "In the case of a healthcare worker in their 20s diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism after vaccination, since there was no thrombocytopenia and the disease was evaluated as caused by pre-existing thrombosis in the leg veins based on radiological findings, causality with the vaccine was not recognized."
Additionally, a woman in her 70s who reported purpura on her legs after vaccination on the 25th of last month was evaluated to have developed the condition due to arteriosclerotic thrombosis caused by underlying cardiovascular disease, making causality difficult to recognize.
On the same day, Park Young-jun, head of the Adverse Reaction Investigation Support Team of the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Headquarters, explained, "So far, among 47 reported deaths after vaccination reviewed by the Damage Investigation Team, 32 cases have been deliberated," adding, "Among these 32 cases, none have been recognized as causally related, and the remaining 15 cases are still under investigation and have not been reviewed yet."
Park also said, "Regarding suspected severe cases, investigations or reviews have been conducted for 41 cases by the Damage Investigation Team," and added, "Among these 41 cases, reviews have been completed for 17 cases, while investigations are still ongoing for the remaining 24 cases."
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