A doctor in Florida dies more than two weeks after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine – although the shot played some role, it is still being investigated.
Dr. Gregory Michael, 56, an OB-GYN at Miami Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, died Monday after suffering a hemorrhage, the Palm Beach Post reported.
The medical episode was presumably caused by a lack of platelets, the outlet reported.
According to his wife, Heidi Neckelmann, Michael received the Pfizer vaccine on December 18th.
In a Facebook post Tuesday, Neckelmann said Michael went to the hospital three days later due to spots on his skin indicating he may be suffering from internal bleeding.
She said doctors determined he had a low platelet count, which they wanted to increase to ‘no use’.
‘Experts from across the country were involved in his care. “No matter what they did, the number of platelets refused to go up,” she wrote.
Neckelmann said he was “conscious and energetic throughout the process” until the condition caused him to have a stroke, which killed him within minutes.
The Florida Department of Health said Miami investigators are leading the investigation – and will provide their findings to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Palm Beach Post reported.
Pfizer, who developed the vaccine, said it would launch its own investigation into his death.
“We are actively investigating this matter, but at the moment we do not believe there is any direct connection with the vaccine,” the company said in a statement.