Two students die in Vietnam after receiving COVID-19 vaccine
VOV.VN - Two students, with one in Hanoi capital and the other in Bac Giang province, have died after they were given their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine against COVID-19.
The Hanoi student, a 9th grader of Nhi Khe commune in Thuong Tin district, received her first shot on November 27 and had high temperatures the following morning, said Nguyen Viet Binh, chairman of the Nhi Khe commune administration.
She was transferred to Thuong Tin District General Hospital and then the Ministry of Health - run Bach Mai Hospital for treatment, but passed away shortly after that.
Duong Thi Hong, an official of the National Expanded Immunization Office, told Tuoi Tre newswire that she had discussed the case with the leadership of the Hanoi Department of Health that said investigation is underway.
The Hanoi Department of Health is expected to hold a meeting of a professional council on November 29 to examine the case, said Hong.
Meanwhile, the Health Department of Bac Giang confirmed on November 28 that a local high school student had died after receiving the first COVID-19 vaccine shot together with other students.
Four out of vaccinated students in Son Dong district suffered from reactions following vaccinations on November 24, according to Nguyen Thu Huong, deputy director of the provincial Health Department.
Two students with milder reactions were given treatment locally and were discharged on November 27.
Two other students with more serious reactions, including dizziness, breathing difficulties, chest pain and nausea were admitted to Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi. Both required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), a sophisticated form of therapy that is used to save patients in critical condition.
One did not survive after five days of treatment, while the other's condition has stabilized, reported Huong.
Investigation is underway, said Huong, adding that the province will continue with the vaccinations.
Vietnam has so far approved the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for use in children aged 12-17. However, only the Pfizer vaccine (Comirnaty) has been administered due to vaccine shortages.