Covid-19: 'Myocarditis was probably due to vaccination', says board reviewing man's death
Lee Kenny16:17, Dec 20 2021Ashleigh Wilson/Supplied
Rory Nairn died in November, likely from a very rare side effect of the Covid-19 vaccine.
The death of a 26-year-old man was probably from the heart condition myocarditis that was likely caused by the Covid-19 vaccine, an independent safety board says.
It comes after the Covid-19 Vaccine Independent Safety Monitoring Board revealed it has reviewed the deaths of three people from potential myocarditis, including that of a 13-year-old boy.
Plumber Rory Nairn, from Dunedin, died suddenly in his home on November 17 within two weeks of receiving his first dose of the Pfizer vaccine.
Preliminary information from the autopsy has identified myocarditis – inflammation of the heart muscle – as the probable cause of his death, the safety monitoring board said on Monday.
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Vaccinologist Dr Helen Petousis-Harris said although vaccine-related myocarditis can occur it is “very rare”, and the risks from the vaccine are greatly outweighed by the risk of contracting Covid-19.
The board said Nairn reported no symptoms prior to being vaccinated and the symptoms of myocarditis developed in the days immediately following his first vaccine dose.
He also did not seek medical advice or treatment for his symptoms.
Some Covid-19 vaccines, including the Pfizer vaccine, can increase the risk of myocarditis, the safety monitoring board said.