MIAMI (CBSMiami / CNN) – Medical examiner Miami-Dade says the death of a South Florida doctor was not definitively linked to the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine he took weeks earlier.
Dr. Gregory Michael, who practices at Mount Sinai Medical Center, died two weeks after receiving the vaccine.
His widow, Heidi Neckelmann, posted on Facebook: “He was a very healthy boy, 56 years old, loved by everyone in the community, he delivered hundreds of healthy babies and worked tirelessly during the pandemic. I think people should be aware that side effects can occur. “
Neckelmann also said that her husband had a hemorrhagic stroke due to lack of platelets. He reportedly had an unusual case of severe thrombocytopenia, a condition that decreases the body’s ability to clot bod and stop internal bleeding.
Neckelmann said he called for emergency care three days after receiving the vaccine, after noticing spots on his skin, indicating internal bleeding.
Dr. Aileen Marty, an infectious disease specialist and professor of medicine at FIU, told Peter D’Oench of CBS4, “Any death like this is very tragic. He was a colleague and I feel the loss of Dr. Michael quite deeply. “
“There is nothing in clinical trials to indicate that this is a likely result of the vaccine itself. That being said, we are always learning new things. This is a new situation and we have to analyze it very carefully “, she added. “You have to look at the many millions of people who have been vaccinated around the world with these vaccines and compared it to what is happening around the world with death and morbidity from COVID-19. I know that the coroner is top in Miami-Dade and will be able to give us details to explain exactly what happened. “
The Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner is working with the Florida Department of Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to investigate Michael’s death.
Although it was not permanently linked to the vaccine, it is one of the possibilities explored, according to Darren Caprara, chief operating officer at the coroner’s office.
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Caprara said Michael received a vaccine around December 19 and died “at the end of January 3 to 4”.
An autopsy was performed on Tuesday, Caprara said, on the cause of death until the forensic studies and partner agencies are completed.
Pfizer also said it is investigating.
“Pfizer and BioNTech are aware of the death of a healthcare professional sixteen days after receiving the first dose” of the vaccine, Pfizer said in a statement. “It is an extremely unusual clinical case of severe thrombocytopenia, a condition that decreases the body’s ability to clot blood and stop internal bleeding,” he added.
“We are actively investigating this case, but we do not believe at this time that there is any direct link to the vaccine,” the company said in a statement.
“No associated safety signals have been identified in our clinical trials, post-marketing experience to date or with the mRNA vaccine platform. To date, millions of people have been vaccinated and we closely monitor all adverse events in people who receive our vaccine. “
CDC officials said Wednesday they had not seen severe worrying reactions to coronavirus vaccines beyond 29 cases of severe allergic reactions.
According to the CDC, more than 5.3 million people received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine in the United States.
In its statement Wednesday night, the agency said it regularly reviews safety data with other federal agencies, such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, as well as vaccine safety experts who independently analyze the data, make recommendations and provide guidance. .
“The CDC will assess the situation as more information becomes available and provide timely updates on what is known and any action needed,” the statement said.
Both Pfizer and the CDC said their thoughts were with the family.
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