LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has been notified that the COVID-19 vaccine has been listed as one of many causes of death for a person in the state.
The individual, a man in his late forties with some co-morbidities and a resident of a long-term care facility, died between 1 and 2 weeks after receiving his first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
The death occurred on January 17, and the man received the vaccine in the first week of January.
The death has been entered into VAERS, the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, a national vaccine safety surveillance program administered by the CDC and the FDA. Whenever a death or adverse reaction occurs after vaccination, the matter should be reported to VAERS. This process allows the CDC and the FDA to closely monitor and review any adverse events for ongoing safety evaluations. As the standard protocol is for any death reported in VAERS, it will be fully assessed.
Dr. Gary Anthone, Nebraska’s Chief Medical Officer, issued the following statement:
Residents of long-term care facilities have been given high priority in the state to receive vaccinations because of the higher death rates among this medically vulnerable population. We are confident in the safety of the vaccine and understand that there may be questions about a situation like this. Typically, deaths from the COVID-19 vaccine can be attributed to anaphylaxis and occur within a relatively short period of time after the vaccine is administered, and therefore monitoring takes place. While I cannot speculate on this matter, people are more likely to die from other underlying factors days or weeks after receiving the vaccine. It is very important for people at high risk to consult their healthcare provider about the best way to get vaccinated. “
DHHS says vaccination is the best line of defense against the COVID-19 pandemic.
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