South Korea vaccine death toll grows to 32 amid denials flu shot linked to teen’s demise
- Doctors and politicians have called for a halt to the government campaign aimed at vaccinating about 30 million people against influenza
- An autopsy of the 17-year-old conducted by the National Forensic Service found the death had no relation to the vaccine, Yonhap news agency reported
The teen was among the first reported to have died as part of a government campaign to vaccinate about 30 million of a population of 52 million to prevent coronavirus complications. The toll has grown over the past week, sparking calls from doctors and politicians for a halt to the programme.
The National Forensic Service has been conducting autopsies on some of the deceased as part of a government investigation, and determined that the 17-year-old’s death had no relation to the vaccine, Yonhap news agency said, citing police.
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Both the forensic agency and police were not immediately reachable for comment.
Of the known deaths, 22 including the boy received a free flu shot the government has allotted for some 19 million teenagers and senior citizens, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. At least seven of the nine people investigated had underlying conditions.