NO deaths have been reported among Covid-19 booster recipients, said the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency director.

Dr Roshayati Mohamad Sani said the causality between deaths and boosters can be determined only after thorough investigation.

Her comment comes after reports yesterday said 42 deaths have been recorded among booster recipients.

“Of the 42 deaths, 22 have been investigated and 20 others are pending investigation,” she told a press conference in Putrajaya today.

“Based on our evaluation, there is no causality between the deaths and the boosters.”

She said to determine whether an individual died of the vaccine or other illness, the case will undergo several rounds of investigations.

“An adverse-events-following-immunisation (AEFI) death will be investigated by doctors and specialists at the health facility.

“Based on this investigation, as well as clinical and post-mortem data if available, the death will be evaluated by a pharmacovigilance committee comprising specialists from various fields.

“This committee will determine whether there is a direct causality between the death and the vaccine.”

Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, who was present at the press conference, said when a post-mortem is conducted, samples from the body will be sent to a lab for further analysis to determine the cause of death.

“We will take samples to be sent to the lab for analysis of other illnesses and viruses.

“We will wait for this report before we can inform the cause of death. This is the current process.”

Dr Roshayati told the media to closely look at the information provided to them and not choose bits and pieces.

“This will cause confusion and scare the public.”

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said individuals are using such misinformation to spread fake news.

“Those who refuse the booster not only refuse it for themselves, but are also spreading fake news that scares the public.

“The booster and children immunisation programme are being disrupted by individuals who have nothing to do with it.” – February 17, 2022.