Hospital worker dies days after Covid shot

The man worked at Ranchi-based private Medanta hospital; this is the first such case in the state, exact cause of death is yet to be ascertained

RANCHI: A 52-year-old housekeeping employee of Ranchibased private Medanta hospital died on Tuesday night, two days after he was administered Covishield, the coronavirus vaccine.

This is first such case in the state. However, the exact cause of death is yet to be ascertained, officials said.

The deceased was identified as Mannu Pahan (52). He had received the jab on February 1 along with 150 other frontline workers at Medanta Hospital. On Tuesday night (February 2), he suddenly fell unconscious at his home and was rushed to the hospital, where he was declared brought dead.

However, state health minister Banna Gupta denied the vaccine as the reason behind Pahan’s death.

“The death is not at all connected with the vaccination. The deceased was given the first dose of Covishield from the vial with batch number 4120Z010, manufacturing date November 1, 2020, and expiry date April 29, 2021. Nine other beneficiaries were given a shot from the same vial. No adverse event following immunization (AEFI) was reported. In fact, 351 health workers of the same hospital have so far been inoculated and all are doing well.”

The minister said the vaccine is fully safe and appealed people not to swayed by rumours.

Ranchi civil surgeon Dr VB Prasad informed, “As per information, Pahan had sat in front of a bonfire on Tuesday night. After some time, he went out of his house and collapsed all of a sudden. Prima facie, it is not a case of death due to vaccination. But, the Ranchi AEFI committee has been chipped in to probe the matter as per protocols.”

“The real cause of death could only be ascertained after postmortem examination, which is underway at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Ranchi. The viscera will also be preserved for forensic examination,” he added.

According to family members of the deceased, Pahan’s condition deteriorated all of a sudden on Tuesday night. He was taken to Medanta hospital soon after, but was declared brought dead.

His wife Seema Devi said, “The real cause of death should be ascertained for satisfaction, as many people are still to be vaccinated.”

She, however, clarified that she was not aware if her husband was suffering from any health issues.

Head of Medanta hospital, Dr Mukhtar, said, “Pahan was given the first dose of the vaccine on February 1 along with 151 other hospital staff members, but none complained of any health issues. He had joined duty after few hours of taking the jab. He was also on the next day. But, he was brought dead in the night. We have informed the matter to Ranchi deputy commissioner and civil surgeon offices.”

He added, “As per our information, Pahan was a patient of both hypertension and diabetes. He might have suffered a cardiac arrest. His body has been sent for autopsy.”

According to a health department’s bulletin of February 2, Jharkhand has vaccinated 55,441 frontline health care workers against the target of 104, 632. The state has reported 229 cases of AEFI.

The death is not at all connected to the Covid vaccination.

BANNA GUPTA , health min