Delhi; 19 January 2021 (UMMN): Two men, out of seven, who had developed severe adverse symptoms after being immunized have died.
One man who died is a 46-year-old, a ward staff in government-run Deen Dayal Upadhaya hospital in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh. The other, a male aged 43, is from Bellary in Karnataka.
According to India Today, the family of Moradabad deceased blamed the death on the vaccine, while the UP government said that man died due to septic shock and cardiac arrest and the death was "not related to the Covid-19 vaccination".
Covaxin, an Indian developed Covid-19 vaccine, has not completed the Phase 3 trials, and has been approved for emergency use.
Responding to the deaths of Covid-19 vaccine recipients the All India Drug Action Network (AIDAN) released a statement on Monday.
"While preliminary findings in each case have ruled out the cause of death to be related to vaccination, there is a need for both deaths to be thoroughly investigated. It is of crucial importance that the process of investigation of the deaths and the findings are shared transparently with the public, particularly when there are signs of vaccine hesitancy setting in," the statement said.
"Serum Institute has made renewed demands for indemnity today yet there is no compensation mechanism that has been put in place by the government for individuals who may suffer serious injury or death following vaccination..." the statement by AIDAN said.
"... vaccines are still undergoing local trials hence this event needs to be taken seriously and looked into rather than dismissing it outright.” said Ethical expert of health and police Anant Bhan.
