"Healthy Every Year with No Abnormal Findings in Health Checkups"
Citizens are receiving vaccinations at the COVID-19 vaccination center set up at Bukahyeon Culture and Sports Center in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] News has emerged that a 64-year-old man died from acute myeloid leukemia after receiving the first dose of the AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine. Recently, cases of acute leukemia diagnosed after COVID-19 vaccination have been reported, raising concerns about vaccine side effects; however, no link between the vaccine and leukemia onset has been confirmed to date.
On the 31st of last month, a post titled "My father was diagnosed with leukemia after the first COVID-19 vaccine dose and passed away six days later" was uploaded to the Blue House National Petition Board.
The petitioner, Mr. A, stated, "My father is 64 years old this year, has run a store for 30 years, maintained his health by cycling regularly, and had no abnormal findings in annual health checkups."
He explained, "After receiving the AZ vaccine on June 11, my father's health rapidly deteriorated, with weakness and difficulty urinating. When I asked if the vaccine could be the cause of such a sudden decline in a previously healthy person, the attending physician scoffed and said there was no connection to the vaccine."
He added, "My father underwent countless treatments and tests in a short period, but his condition worsened daily, and he passed away without being able to exchange a word with family members. Though heartbroken, I want to inform many people of this fact and hope the government steps in to explain side effect cases, apologize, and take measures to prevent further victims."
Meanwhile, including Mr. A's case, posts from people who developed leukemia after receiving COVID-19 vaccines continue to appear on the Blue House National Petition Board.
On the 24th of last month, a petitioner wrote, "A previously healthy family head was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia after receiving the Moderna vaccine and died 20 days later." Additionally, on the 30th, a story was posted about a mid-30s Taekwondo instructor who was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia after receiving the Janssen vaccine.
In response, health authorities maintain the position that "it is difficult to consider that COVID-19 vaccines cause acute leukemia." On the 31st of last month, Jo Eun-hee, head of the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Task Force's Safety Vaccination Management Team, stated, "No reports of causality between vaccination and acute leukemia exist in other countries' papers or reports."
However, on the 1st, Ko Jae-young, Crisis Communication Team Leader at the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said, "The Safety Vaccination Management Team has officially requested the Korean Society of Hematology to review the relationship between the vaccine and leukemia onset," adding, "The society will provide an official response on the 2nd."
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