A Florida doctor died about two weeks after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, and investigations have begun to determine whether the injection played a role in the man’s death.
Dr. Gregory Michael, a 56-year-old obstetrician-gynecologist at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, passed away on January 3. Michael received the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine on December 18, but then experienced a “strong reaction” just a few days later, according to his wife, Heidi Neckelmann.
“In a Facebook post, Michael’s wife, Heidi Neckelmann, said that he sought emergency care three days after the injection because he had spots on the skin that indicated internal bleeding,” reported USA Today.
Michael suffered from a severe lack of platelets, and doctors across the country tried to increase his platelet count “to no avail”. Because of his medical condition, Michael allegedly suffered a hemorrhagic stroke and died in “a matter of minutes”, according to his wife.
The Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner’s Office conducted an autopsy on Tuesday and did not rule out a possible connection to the COVID-19 vaccine.
“The cause of death is pending completion of studies being done by the coroner and the Centers for Disease Control,” Darren Caprara, director of operations for the county office, told the Miami Herald. “The case is still under investigation, so nothing has been finalized.”
Caprara said the doctor’s cause of death would be disclosed after the coroner completed his investigation in partnership with other agencies.
A spokesman for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed that the agency is “aware of a reported death in Florida from an individual who received the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine about two weeks before he died.”
“The CDC will assess the situation as more information becomes available and will provide timely updates on what is known and any necessary actions,” said the CDC spokesman. “It has been a difficult year as each of us struggles with a worldwide pandemic. The use of COVID-19 vaccines is the next step in our efforts to protect Americans and reduce the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Pfizer released a statement on the death: “Pfizer and BioNTech are aware of the death of a healthcare professional sixteen days after receiving the first dose” of the COVID-19 vaccine.
“It is a highly unusual clinical case of severe thrombocytopenia, a condition that decreases the body’s ability to clot blood and stop internal bleeding,” noted the pharmaceutical company. “We are actively investigating this case, but we do not believe at the moment that there is any direct connection to the vaccine.”
The Mayo Clinic defines thrombocytopenia as a “condition in which you have a low platelet count”, where “the number of platelets may be so low that dangerous internal bleeding occurs”. Thrombocytopenia “can occur as a result of a bone marrow disorder, such as leukemia or an immune system problem. Or it can be a side effect of taking certain medications.”
Pfizer stated, “There were no related safety signs identified in our clinical trials, in the post-marketing experience so far or with the mRNA vaccine platform.”
“To date, millions of people have been vaccinated and we are closely monitoring all adverse events in individuals who received our vaccine,” continued Pfizer. “It is important to note that serious adverse events, including deaths unrelated to the vaccine, are unfortunately likely to occur at a rate similar to what would happen in the general population.”
According to Bloomberg’s COVID-19 vaccine tracker, 6.25 million doses have been administered in the United States since vaccines began on December 14. There were 17.5 million doses of coronavirus vaccines administered in 38 countries.
Mount Sinai Medical Center issued a statement stating that “the appropriate agencies are contacted immediately and have our full cooperation”. The hospital said it “cannot confirm or deny information about any patient” due to medical privacy laws.
The Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner’s Office, the Florida Department of Health, the CDC and Pfizer are investigating Michael’s death.
“The CDC and the FDA are responsible for reviewing the safety data for the COVID-19 vaccine and presenting that information for federal recommendations on vaccine administration,” said Jason Mahon, Director of Communications for the Florida Emergency Management Division , to USA Today. “The state will continue to provide all available information to the CDC as they conduct this investigation.”
The Facebook account that belonged to the doctor’s wife said that her “very healthy” husband was “an advocate of the vaccine in favor, so he bought it himself”. The post added: “I believe that people should be aware that side effects can happen, that it is not good for everyone and in this case it destroyed a beautiful life, a perfect family and affected so many people in the community. Not that his death is in vain. , please save more lives by making this information news. “
Michael leaves behind his wife and daughter.