The Covid-19 Vaccine Independent Safety Monitoring Board believes a woman’s death may have been caused by myocarditis, a rare side effect of the Pfizer vaccine.
It is being treated as the first case in New Zealand where a death in the days after vaccination has been linked to the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine.
In a statement, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said the board noted that there were other medical issues occurring at the same time which may have influenced the outcome following vaccination.
The case has been referred to the coroner, who is investigating. The cause of death has not yet been determined.
An international expert in vaccines said the risks of serious harm from Covid-19 were far greater than any risk from Covid-19 vaccines. People should still get the vaccine.
