First confirmed death from Covid jab in South Africa
Health officials have confirmed the country's first officially recognised death due to the Covid-19 vaccine.
The person had Guillain Barre syndrome, a condition which sees the body's immune system attacking the nerves.
"It is with sad hearts today that we report to you that Sahpra has been informed of a fatal case of a syndrome called Guillain Barre syndrome," says South African Health Products Regulatory Authority CEO Dr Tumi Semete.
"In this assessment, there is a conclusion that this case of GBS was associated with the event that the individual had received the Covid-19 Jansen vaccine."
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No further details have been shared on the patient to protect their family.
Speaking at a briefing earlier led by Health Minister Joe Phaahla, Dr Semete SAPHPRA CEO Dr said more than 100 possible vaccine-related deaths were investigated.
"We can report with confidence that this is the first death that has been causality associated with the vaccine. We have since there are a lot of vaccines assessed close to 160 deaths and in those cases we have not found causality. These deaths are coincidental."
