A 78-year-old woman died within minutes of receiving a coronavirus vaccine at a mass inoculation site on Friday in California, collapsing in an observation area, NBC News reports.
The woman, who had a history of heart disease, informed workers at the Kaiser-run site that she was not feeling well. As a health care worker was checking on her, she lost consciousness. Medical personnel attended to her and started CPR, but she could not be revived and was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
While a cause of death has not yet been determined, medical professionals say that her death and the vaccine injection appear to be coincidental. The woman did not show any signs of an allergic reaction or anaphylaxis after the shot.
Her husband of 57 years also received his vaccination on Friday and reported no complications.
“Despite this tragedy, he is still urging that the COVID-19 vaccination effort continue, and said he intends to receive his second dose of vaccine in a few weeks,” said Dr. Michael E. Morris, director of Kaiser Permanente Southern California’s vaccination program, in a statement.