NZ records 'probable' Pfizer vaccine death

A woman has died in New Zealand from inflammation of the heart, known to be an exceptionally rare side effect of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

On Monday, New Zealand’s health ministry advised a woman had died due to myocarditis.

NZ’s COVID-19 vaccine monitoring agency, CV-ISMB, believes the condition was “probably due to vaccination”, noting the woman suffered other medical issues around the time of her death.

Around 3.3 million vaccine doses have been administered in NZ. This is the first death believed to be linked to the rollout.

“The benefits of vaccination with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine continue to greatly outweigh the risk of both COVID-19 infection and vaccine side effects, including myocarditis,” the health ministry statement read.

An official cause of death will be determined by the coroner.

“The Pfizer vaccine is highly effective in protecting against serious illness and death from COVID-19, and we remain confident about using it in New Zealand,” John Tait, CV-ISMB chair, said.