LINCOLN, Neb. (WOWT) – Nebraska DHHS reported Thursday evening that it had been notified that the COVID-19 vaccine was listed as one of many causes of death for a man in the state.
The Department of Health and Human Services described the man as in his late 40s with some pre-existing conditions in a long-term care facility. The man died on January 17, one or two weeks after receiving the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
The specific vaccine was not disclosed in the DHHS report.
His death is included in the FDA and CDC Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, a national vaccine safety surveillance program. VAERS closely monitors and assesses any adverse events for ongoing safety assessments. DHHS says it is a standard protocol for any death reported in VAERS to be fully assessed.
“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 so monitoring is done,” said Dr. Gary Anthone, Nebraska’s Chief Medical Officer, in the DHHS publication. “While I cannot speculate on this matter, days or weeks after receiving the vaccine, people are more likely to die from other underlying factors.”
Dr. Anthone said it’s important for people with high-risk conditions to consult their doctor about the best way to get vaccinated. He added that he is confident in the safety of the vaccine and understands there could be questions about a situation like this.
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