Summarised by Centrist
The death of 26-year-old New Zealand plumber Rory Nairn from myocarditis, a “rare” side effect of the Pfizer COVID vaccine, could have been avoided, according to a coroner’s report.
Nairn died 12 days after receiving his first dose in 2021, unaware of the risks associated with the vaccine.
Coroner Sue Johnson stated that the side effect should have been disclosed to Nairn beforehand.
However, Health and Disability Commissioner Morag McDowell’s report found there were no official sources explicitly telling vaccine providers to inform those being injected about myocarditis.
Nonetheless, McDowell criticised the pharmacy anyway for not informing Nairn about myocarditis symptoms:
“Given the seriousness of the risk of myocarditis and the information volume, one could reasonably expect that in communication to the providers the risk would be emphasised or highlighted in some way.”
Due to what McDowell referred to as “unprecedented” conditions of the pandemic, there were no sanctions imposed on the pharmacy, opting instead for an “educational approach.”
Nairn’s fiancée, Ashleigh Wilson, shared that he mistook his chest pains for stress related to life changes like buying a house, and their pending marriage.
