The Pfizer vaccine is safe and its benefits outweigh the risks, health officials are confirming, after the death of woman in New Zealand was linked to complications likely caused by the vaccination.
A board monitoring the safety of the vaccine believes the woman died due to myocarditis - an inflammation of the heart wall - with symptoms including chest pain, irregular heartbeat and shortness of breath.
It's known to be a rare side effect of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine. It's the first death recorded in New Zealand related to the vaccine, after more than two million Covid-19 vaccinations have been administered. The case has now been referred to the coroner.
Chair of the Covid-19 Independent Safety Monitoring Board, Doctor John Tait, told Checkpoint people should be alert to complications but should not be put of getting the immunisation.
