Kerala hospital says pregnant woman died due to vaccine jab

Kottayam: A Kerala woman's death has sparked controversy after the hospital said one of the causes of her death is vaccine-associated thrombosis.

Mahima Mathew was in her first trimester of pregnancy and had her first dose of Covishield on August 6. Five days later, she developed a severe headache and was admitted to Mar Sleeva Medicity, Pala on August 15. She had the pregnancy confirmed and received the vaccine shot at the same hospital. The 31-year-old was declared brain dead on August 16. The death was confirmed on August 20, reported The Indian Express.

The hospital, in the death report, stated that cerebral venous thrombosis and vaccine-associated thrombocytopenia (pending autopsy) caused her death. The Health Department is waiting for the final autopsy.

Kottayam district medical officer Dr Jacob Varghese said that they do not understand "under what circumstances the hospital has linked the death to Covid vaccine." He added that the death would be audited by an expert team of doctors.

Ranjith K, the woman's husband, wrote a complaint to the Health Minister and sought a probe. He said that the health department has cleared Covid-19 vaccination for pregnant women and the hospital has stated that Mahima's health condition got complicated due to the side-effects of vaccination. He added that he is not happy with the treatment at the hospital, said The Indian Express report.

A 19-year-old woman's death in Kochi was also alleged to be due to the Covid-19 vaccine. She had taken her first dose of Covishield on July 28 as part of undergoing a dental procedure and later developed a headache. She died on August 12 due to an intracerebral haemorrhage. Pathanamthitta District Medical Officer A L Sheeja is waiting on the state medical board's report on her death.