The photo in the file shows a medical professional using a needle and a bottle of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine to prepare a dose at a vaccination center. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP via Getty Images) (Getty Images)
SANTA ANA, California – An Orange County health worker died days after receiving his second dose of Pfizer coronavirus vaccine, the Orange County Register reported on Tuesday.
Tim Zook, 60, worked as an X-ray technician at the South Coast Global Medical Center in Santa Ana.
On January 5, Zook posted a photo of his COVID-19 vaccination card with the caption: “I’ve never been so excited to take a picture before. Now I’m fully vaccinated after receiving my second dose of Pfizer.”
According to the newspaper, Zook suffered an adverse reaction a few hours after the second shot was administered. His health deteriorated and he died four days later.
The coroner said the cause of death was inconclusive for the time being, and more toxicology tests would take months, the Register said.
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His family said he had high blood pressure and was slightly overweight, but other than that, he was quite healthy.
Zook’s wife told the newspaper that her husband was an advocate for the vaccine and that she does not blame any pharmaceutical company.
“He believed in vaccines. I’m sure he would get the vaccine again and would like the public to get it, ”she told the publication.
She said she believes more research needs to be done in cases of serious reactions to vaccines because, although they are rare, they can be fatal in some cases.
“The message is, stay safe, get the vaccine – but employees need to do more research. We need to know the cause, ”she told Register. “Vaccines need to be as safe as possible. Every life is important.”
Zook’s death was reported to the National Vaccine Adverse Event Notification System, administered by the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control. The Orange County coroner’s office said that if there is any correlation between his death and the vaccine, he will notify the OC Health Agency.
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Last weekend, health officials in Placer County reported that a person died hours after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, although they did not specify which vaccine the person received.
The individual tested positive for COVID-19 in late December and was given a COVID-19 vaccine several hours before his death on January 21, 2021.
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“There are a number of local, state and federal agencies actively investigating this case; any reports surrounding the cause of death are premature, pending the outcome of the investigation,” Placer County Sheriff-Coroner Division said in a statement.
The CDC released information after learning of severe allergic reactions in some cases to the COVID-19 vaccine and recommends that if a person has already had a severe allergic reaction to any ingredient in a COVID-19 vaccine, “then they” should not get that vaccine specific. “
This does not mean that everyone with severe allergies is prevented from contracting the virus.
“The CDC recommends that people with a history of serious allergic reactions unrelated to vaccines or injectable medications – such as allergies to food, pets, poison, environment or latex – can still be vaccinated,” writes the CDC on its website .
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“People with a history of allergy to oral medications or a family history of severe allergic reactions, or who may have a milder illness [sic] allergy to vaccines (without anaphylaxis) – can still be vaccinated. “