The Malaysian Insight

THERE have been no reports received linking Covid-19 vaccination to deaths, Deputy Health Minister Aaron Ago Dagang said.  

He said that throughout the vaccination programme up to March 11 there were no cases directly linked to those who were vaccinated.  

“Since the immunisation programme, the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency has received 607 Adverse Events Following Immunisation reports. 

“These reports are on deaths that are suspected in vaccinated patients. So far there are no deaths linked to the vaccine,” he told the Dewan Rakyat today.  

Dagang (Kanowit-GPS) was responding to Kelvin Yii (Bandar Kuching-PH), who wanted to know the number of deaths among Covid-19 vaccine recipients.  

He also asked the ministry on the cause of death for all the vaccine recipients and the parameters used to determine whether the death can be directly attributed to the vaccine or not.  

Dagang said that out of the 607 reports received, investigation and evaluation were completed in 451 by the Covid-19 Vaccine Pharmacovigilance Special Committee.  

“All reports are based on clinical tests and the post-mortem report is confidential information and cannot be revealed to the public. 

“Only the next of kin can request for the information. We also have a team comprising various specialists to investigate the deaths.”

According to the Health Ministry, the number of deaths reported yesterday increased from 95 the day before to 105, with 29 patients dead on arrival. 

The ministry has explained that all the deaths reported for a day took place within a single day, but are reported by medical facilities to the ministry within 72 hours.

The death toll now stands at 34,099. – March 17, 2022.