Independent panel to investigate into teenage deaths and other AEFI cases

SHAH ALAM - An independent panel consisting of external experts will review cases of adverse events following immunisation (AEFI) including the late Revnesh Kumar, according to the Health Ministry.

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin took to Twitter to state that the independent panel will review all the relevant reports compiled by the Health Ministry on the matter.

This arises after Klang MP Charles Santiago questioned Khairy and the government whether will there be any external investigation would be conducted into Revnesh's death, which happened barely 18 days after he received the first dose of Covid-19 vaccination.

According to Charles, an independent view on the post-mortem report could help parents ease their fears.

Meanwhile, in the Dewan Rakyat session yesterday, Deputy Health Minister II Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang stated there were no cases directly connecting Covid-19 vaccines to fatalities since the vaccination programme started.

He also mentioned that 607 AEFI reports have been received by the National Regulatory Agency (NPRA).

On March 9, doctors verified that 13-years-old Revnesh's death was not related to Covid-19 vaccines.

On January 16, Revnesh was reported to have vomited and collapsed while on his way to a karate session. He was then brought to Kajang Hospital and was proclaimed deceased there.

According to Revnesh's family, three weeks prior to his death, he had his first shot of the Covid-19 vaccine.