Death of a person in their 50s after AZ leftover vaccine... Bereaved family expresses anger, "Repeatedly requested causality during lifetime"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] As a man in his 50s who received a leftover AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine in Busan has reportedly died, the Busan city government is investigating the causal relationship between the vaccination and the death. Meanwhile, the bereaved family claims that the death of Mr. A (51), who had no underlying health conditions, is deeply related to the vaccination and urges, "A prompt investigation according to the established procedures must be conducted to determine the cause of death."

According to Busan city on the 5th, Mr. A received the leftover AZ vaccine at a clinic in Gaegum-dong, Busanjin-gu, Busan, around 4 p.m. on the 27th of last month.

Afterward, Mr. A, who had been living his daily life without any particular abnormal symptoms, showed signs of respiratory distress while exercising at home on the 30th of last month, the fourth day after vaccination, and reportedly experienced cardiac arrest symptoms as well. His family called 119, and Mr. A was transferred to the intensive care unit of a general hospital in Sasang-gu, Busan, where he received treatment but did not regain consciousness and passed away around 4 p.m. on the 4th.

The hospital stated that the cause of death was subarachnoid hemorrhage but said that the causal relationship between Mr. A’s death and the vaccination was not clear.

In response, the bereaved family strongly insists that there is a deep connection between Mr. A’s death and the vaccination. The family stated, "The deceased died due to side effects from the vaccine, and because the quarantine authorities delayed the epidemiological investigation, it became impossible to investigate the causal relationship between the vaccination and the death. He had no underlying diseases or medications and was healthy enough to exercise regularly, but suddenly collapsed after vaccination and died without regaining consciousness. We believe he died because of the vaccination."

Mr. A’s nephew told Yonhap News in a phone interview, "My uncle repeatedly requested the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency to investigate the causal relationship while he was alive, but it was not accepted," adding, "Then, on the afternoon of the 5th, when the funeral procedures were underway, the health center suddenly contacted us and said that an autopsy would be necessary to proceed with compensation, which plunged the family into grief once again."

The bereaved family has reportedly been strongly opposing the autopsy, emphasizing, "What we want is not compensation but the determination of the causal relationship."

Earlier, a Busan city official said, "The obligation to report adverse vaccine reactions lies with doctors. Currently, no reports have been received from medical institutions," adding, "The cause of death is clearly subarachnoid hemorrhage, and since there have been no recognized cases of causality with vaccination, it seems no report was made." The official also stated, "We will verify once again with medical institutions and examine whether there is any relationship between the vaccination and the death."