EFFINGHAM, Canada (KWCH) – An investigation into whether a woman in Atchison County died from the COVID-19 vaccine is being investigated.
According to an obituary from 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 Atchison County resident. The resident was vaccinated in Jefferson County and, according to the Department of Local Health, appropriate CDC guidelines were followed. During the waiting period after the administration of the vaccine, the individual began to experience anaphylaxis and was provided with medical treatment.The resident was taken to a local hospital where the person later died. will be fully investigated according to the standard protocol. Until the investigation is completed, it is premature to assign a specific cause of death.
The Department of Local Health recorded the death in VAERS, on 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 death or any adverse event occurs after vaccination, the case should be reported to VAERS. This process allows the CDC and the FDA to control for adverse events that may be related to vaccination. As is the standard protocol for any deaths reported to VAERS, it will be thoroughly reviewed. The VAERS report will help inform a more thorough investigation that can conclusively identify the specific cause of death of the person.
Our thoughts and condolences will go to the individual’s family. “
Evans’ family suspects the vaccine caused his death due to a rare severe allergic reaction. There have been more than 100 million shots fired in the United States and more than a million in Kansas. The vast majority report only mild side effects, but from the outset the CDC has warned of allergic reactions in some people.
“This severe immune reaction to the COVID vaccine, which was described in clinical trials, has been described. It is known to occur, although it is a very rare entity, less than one in a million. You do not know if you are one of those people, ”said Dr. Tom Moore, an infectious disease physician at Wesley Healthcare.
Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that can lead to sudden cardiovascular collapse and, in some cases, death.
“Most people who developed this very rare problem with the vaccine already had a history of a rapid immune reaction to a variety of things, specifically anaphylaxis and major food allergies, to this kind of thing. most people who have food allergies and who have seasonal allergies and who are allergic to certain medications can still get the vaccine and have no problem, ”said Dr. Moore.
Vaccine trials show that the reaction is a possibility with the COVID-19 vaccine, but experts say it is extremely rare and still encourages you to get the vaccine. To date, 133 million Americans have received the vaccine, according to a report last month, there are 62 confirmed confirmation reports of anaphylaxis, 46 after the Pfizer vaccine and 16 after the Modern vaccine. However, none leads to death.
“You’re more likely to be hit by lightning,” Dr. Moore said.
Moore said vaccine clinics should also have supplies to treat adverse reactions. For example, we know that the Sedgwick County Vaccine Clinic has epipens and other supplies for this exact reason.
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