A Michigan family claims that their loved one died of complications after receiving the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine and that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is investigating.
The family of Anne VanGeest, 35, said she died on April 19 at Mercy Health Saint Mary’s in Grand Rapids.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the news of Anne’s passing as the result of complications after receiving the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. Anne (Annie), who was 35, was a loving mother, wife, sister, and daughter. An active member in the animal rescue community, Annie will be remembered as a fierce advocate, a master-multi-tasker, and a caring friend by her colleagues, fellow volunteers, and family,“ her family said in a statement to local media. ”We ask for privacy for her family as they mourn Annie’s passing and celebrate her life.”
The CDC said it confirmed to her family that the death was reported via the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), which is managed by the CDC and Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
“VAERS accepts reports of possible side effects (also called ‘adverse events’) following vaccination. The system is not designed to determine whether a reported adverse event was caused by the vaccine, but serves as an early warning system and helps CDC and FDA identify areas for further study.
“When VAERS receives reports of serious illness or death after vaccination, VAERS staff contact the hospital where the patient was treated to obtain the associated medical records to better understand the adverse event. They do not routinely contact the family.”
The Epoch Times has contacted the CDC for comment.
A spokesperson for J&J told The Epoch Times: “There is no greater priority than the safety and well-being of the people we serve, and we carefully review reports of adverse events in individuals receiving our medicines or vaccines.”
“Any report about an individual receiving our COVID-19 vaccine and our assessment of that report is shared with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other appropriate health authorities. This is part of the established process to inform health authorities’ comprehensive surveillance programs that monitor the overall safety of medicines, as well the vaccines authorized for use against this pandemic.”
The CDC and FDA last month recommended a temporary pause in administering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine amid reports of extremely rare blood clots. The two health agencies on April 24 recommended that the distribution of the vaccine continue, but with warnings.
