By MIKE SCHNEIDER
ORLANDO, Florida (AP) – The medical examiner in Miami is investigating the death of a doctor who died about two weeks after receiving Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, officials said Friday.
In a statement, Pfizer said it was aware of the death but did not think there was any direct link to the vaccine.
The death of dr. Gregory Michael is being investigated along with the Florida Department of Health and the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Samples from an autopsy performed Wednesday were sent to the CDC, said Darren Caprara, director of the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiners Division.
“The cause of death depends on the completion of the studies” by the medical examiner and the CDC, Caprara said in an email on Friday.
Pfizer said the doctor died 16 days after receiving a vaccine shot. The company said it was a “very unusual” and serious case of a condition that could prevent blood clots and cause internal bleeding.
“To date, millions of people have been vaccinated and we are monitoring all adverse events in individuals receiving our vaccine,” the statement said.
Michael, 56, died Sunday. He was a midwife with a private practice at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach. His wife did not respond to a request for an interview Friday.
The CDC said in a statement that it intends to evaluate the matter “and to provide timely updates on what is known and all necessary action.” The CDC and the Food and Drug Administration are monitoring potential side effects through a national electronic database, with reports typically coming from health workers and vaccine manufacturers.
It is usually not possible to determine if a problem was actually caused by a vaccine based on information sent to the database, the FDA says on its website. Side effects reported to regulators may be related to existing medical conditions, prescription medications, or other health factors.
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