Despite Over 1,000 Deaths After Vaccination... Only 2 Cases Recognized as Causally Related

On the afternoon of the 12th, when the booster shot vaccination for those who have completed the COVID-19 vaccination began, medical staff were preparing vaccines at the Central Vaccination Center of the National Medical Center in Seoul.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] The number of deaths following COVID-19 vaccination in South Korea has surpassed 1,000. Among these, only two cases have been recognized as having a causal relationship with the vaccine.

According to the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team (Promotion Team) on the 16th, a total of 8,637 new cases were reported to health authorities between the 14th and 15th as suspected adverse reactions after vaccination.

During the same period, death reports increased by 18 cases: 10 from AstraZeneca, 7 from Pfizer, and 1 from Moderna.

Accordingly, as of midnight on that day, the cumulative number of reported deaths totaled 781 cases. By vaccine type, there were 406 cases for Pfizer, 331 for AstraZeneca, 33 for Moderna, and 11 for Janssen.

Including cases where symptoms were initially reported as other issues but worsened to severe conditions resulting in death (306 people), the total number of deaths exceeds 1,000.

However, among the deceased, only two cases have been recognized as causally related to the vaccine: one person in their 30s who died from thrombocytopenic thrombosis and one person in their 20s who died from myocarditis.

Currently, families of COVID-19 vaccine victims have formed groups to urge appropriate responses.

Earlier, during the two-day Health and Welfare Committee audit on the 6th and 7th, victims of adverse vaccine reactions voiced their practical difficulties.

They appealed, "It is nothing short of living hell. Those left behind after losing family members cannot work and their daily lives have been shattered. We have only committed the 'sin' of faithfully participating in a national project."

Regarding this, Jung Eun-kyung, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, stated, "COVID-19 vaccines are new vaccines, and the assessment of adverse reactions is still ongoing worldwide, with new side effects being added. We will continue to strive to expand the scope of compensation."