EFFINGHAM, Kan. (KWCH) – An investigation is underway to find out if a woman in Atchison County died from the COVID-19 vaccine.
According to an obituary at Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home, 68-year-old Jeanie M. Evans of Effingham “died unexpectedly on Wednesday, March 24, 2021, at Stormont-Vail Hospital from a reaction to the Covid vaccine. ”
On Thursday, Eyewitness News contacted the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KHDE) about Evans’ death. The Agency issued the following statement:
“KDHE learned this morning of the death of a 68-year-old resident of Atchison County. The resident was vaccinated in Jefferson County and, according to the local Department of Health, the appropriate CDC guidelines were followed. During the waiting period after the administration of the vaccine, the individual began to experience anaphylaxis and was given medical treatment. The resident was transported to a local hospital, where the individual later died. Death will be fully investigated in accordance with the standard protocol. Until the investigation is completed, it is premature to assign a specific cause of death.
The local health department recorded the death in VAERS, Vaccine adverse event reporting system, a national vaccine safety surveillance program run by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Whenever there is a death or any adverse event after vaccination, the case should be reported to VAERS. This process allows the CDC and the FDA to monitor for adverse events that may be related to vaccination. As is the standard protocol for any death reported in the VAERS, it will be completely revised. The VAERS report will help inform a more in-depth investigation that can conclusively identify the specific cause of the individual’s death.
Our thoughts and condolences are passed on to the individual’s family. ”
The Evans family suspects that the vaccine caused his death due to a rare severe allergic reaction. There were over 100 million photos taken in the US and over a million in Kansas. The vast majority report only mild side effects, but from the beginning, the CDC has warned of allergic reactions in some people.
“This severe immune response to COVID has been described in clinical trials. It is known that it appears, although a very rare entity, it is less than a million. You don’t know if you’re one of those people, “said Dr. Tom Moore, an infectious disease doctor at Wesley Healthcare.
Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that can cause sudden cardiovascular collapse and, in some cases, death.
“Most people who have developed this very rare problem with the vaccine have already had a history of a rapid immune response to a variety of things, especially anaphylaxis and significant food allergies, like this one. The vast majority of people who have food allergies and who have seasonal allergies and allergies to certain medications can get the vaccine and have no problems at all, ”said Dr. Moore.
Vaccine studies show that the reaction is a possibility with COVID-19, but experts say it is extremely rare and still encourages you to take the vaccine. To date, 133 million Americans have received the vaccine, a report last month said 62 reports of confirmed anaphylaxis are confirmed, 46 after the Pfizer vaccine and 16 after the Moderna vaccine. However, none lead to deaths.
“You’re more likely to be struck by lightning,” Dr. Moore said.
Moore said vaccine clinics should also have goods on hand to treat side effects. For example, we know that the vaccine clinic in Sedgwick County has pens and other supplies available for this very reason.
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