A 78-year-old California woman died after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, but her death does not appear to be related to the shot, health officials said Saturday.
The woman began to complain of discomfort after receiving a dose of Pfizer vaccine around noon Friday, Dr. Michael Morris, director of Kaiser Permanente’s vaccination program in Southern California, said in a statement.
She lost consciousness while being treated by medical personnel. Paramedics began performing her CPR, but she couldn’t be revived, Morris continued.
Officials say there were no signs or symptoms that the woman was severely allergic to the vaccine. Her cause of death is still being determined.
The woman’s family said she had a history of heart disease.
Despite the tragedy, her husband of 57, who also received a COVID-19 shot, says he still plans to get the second dose in a few weeks, officials said.
Health officials say the site remains open for scheduled vaccinations.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that if a person has a severe allergic reaction after receiving the first dose of the vaccine, they should not receive the second dose.