Probe deaths due to vaccination: Experts to Modi government

New Delhi: Public health experts sent a letter to the Union Health Ministry on Sunday, demanding an investigation into the deaths of 11 healthcare and frontline workers following the Covid-19 vaccination.

India has seen a total of 11 deaths post the novel coronavirus vaccination.

The letter states, "Though the district or state officials have stated that none of the deaths are related to the vaccine, the reports of the district, state and National Adverse Events Following Immunisation Committees on the assessment of these deaths and other serious AEFIs have not been released."

"We would like to bring to your notice that the 11 deaths meet the WHO's definition of a 'cluster' of serious AEFIs as given in its Covid-19 vaccines: safety surveillance manual 'when two or more AEFIs related in time, place or by vaccine occur'. (1) Guidelines for investigation of cluster AEFIs are given in the WHO's global manual for surveillance of adverse events following immunisation.

(2) AEFIs must be investigated urgently in order to issue warnings to people who should not take it due to contraindications, to correct errors, to reassure the public, as well as to identify potential serious problems in the vaccine," the letter stated.