Monday April 11
A third death in New Zealand is being considered as linked to the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine.
The Covid-19 Vaccine Independent Safety Monitoring Board board first reviewed the report of a death in December 2021. The report was put together by the Centre for Adverse Reactions Monitoring (CARM).
"At the time, there was not enough information available to determine the potential role of the vaccine," a press release on the Ministry of Health's website said.
The board met in March 2022 to consider the available information, which showed that the individual had myocarditis at the time of death.
Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart.
In the weeks prior to the person's death, they had received a dose of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine, the press release said.
"The board considers that the development of myocarditis was possibly due to vaccination with the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine. It’s important to note this case is with the coroner who is still investigating the cause of death.
The board also considers that the circumstances of this case does not impact or change the known information on myocarditis."
This is the third death in New Zealand that is considered to be linked to vaccination with the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine.
All three cases are currently with coroners to determine the cause of death.
Cases today
There are 7,592 new cases of Covid-19 today and 11 people with the virus have died.
Ten people have died in the past three days and one person died 12 days ago.
Of these new community cases, 312 are in Northland, 1,378 are in Auckland, 667 in Waikato, 309 in Bay of Plenty, 150 in the Lakes district, 284 in Hawke's Bay, 350 in MidCentral, 138 in Whanganui, 248 in Taranaki, 69 in Tairāwhiti, 89 in Wairarapa, 549 in Capital and Coast, 332 in Hutt Valley, 270 in Nelson Marlborough, 1,286 in Canterbury, 153 in South Canterbury, 937 in the Southern district, 68 in the West Coast and 3 in unknown locations.
The total number of active cases is 71,167.
The Ministry of Health defines active cases as those identified in the last seven days and not yet classified as recovered.
Hospitalisations and Covid-19 related deaths
11 people with Covid-19 have died, bringing the publicly reported total to date to 500.
There are 640 people in hospital, with 23 of those people in intensive care or high dependency units.
The average age of people currently in hospital is 59.
Testing
The number of PCR tests taken over the past 24 hours is 999 and the number of Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) that have been reported in the past 24 hours is 14,342.
If you take a RAT you must report the result, positive or negative. This can be done online through My Covid Record, or by calling 0800 222 478 between 8am and 8pm.
Vaccinations
96.4 percent of New Zealand's eligible population have had the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, and 95.2 percent have had a second dose.
Young people aged 16 and 17 can now receive a free booster dose of the Pfizer vaccine at least six months after completing the first two doses.
If your second dose was six months ago, you can get your booster by finding a walk-in vaccination centre here.
Top image: A used mask on the ground. Photo: Michael Madden-Smith/Re:
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