A Ministry of Health staff member has been questioned about training and information available to Covid-19 vaccinators on the second day of a coronial inquest.
Rory Nairn died of myocarditis, a rare side-effect of the Pfizer vaccine, 12 days after receiving his first dose of the vaccine. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
The inquest, at Dunedin District Court, follows the death of Rory Nairn's death 12 days on from receiving his first vaccine in November last year.
The 26-year-old Dunedin plumber died of myocarditis, a rare side-effect of the vaccine.
He was vaccinated at a walk-in community clinic in a pharmacy.
Yesterday, the inquest heard evidence from Nairn's fiancée, father, the pharmacist who administered the vaccine and the pharmacy owner.
The vaccinator who gave Nairn his Pfizer dose did not warn him about the risk of myocarditis and was not aware of the Ministry of Health's most recent warning at the time about the condition in relation to a woman's death.
Rory Nairn Photo: RNZ / Tim Brown
The vaccinator, along with the pharmacy owner and the pharmacy, have name suppression.
Ministry of Health group manager Christine Nolan said the ministry had done all it could to equip the pharmacy, telling the inquest updated guidelines are distributed to all vaccine providers, but their consumption cannot be forced.
"The ministry has no way of monitoring whether providers read the various publications that are summarised above. However, I would expect registered health professionals such as pharmacists to ensure they have access to all guidance," she said.
While the vaccinator said yesterday that practices surrounding Pfizer administration changed immediately after Nairn's death, Nolan said the pharmacy had not met its requirements to conduct an internal review.
"It is also the responsibility of providers to conduct internal assessments to ensure that they are meeting service requirements of the programme, and that their vaccinating workforce, clinical knowledge and skills remain current," she said.
"All these steps would involve consideration [of] whether vaccinator was adequately informing consumers of the risk of myocarditis.
"I am not aware that a formal review has occurred in this case."
She said the ministry alongside Te Whatu Ora would proactively support a review.
Nairn's fiancée said in her brief yesterday that getting the Pfizer vaccination was the "worst ... [decision] of our lives".
The inquest will resume next week, and will hear evidence from Te Whatu Ora, Medsafe, and a pathologist.
