Officials in Bali have reproached media outlets for reporting that the death of a man in Denpasar on Monday was related to his recent COVID-19 vaccination.
“It’s very regrettable that there are many news reports saying that the victim died because of the vaccine, when there is no official explanation from any competent party,” Gede Pramana, Head of the Communications, Informatics and Statistics Agency in Bali, said yesterday.
Pramana said that negative reports regarding vaccinations that are presented without accurate data may increase anxiety among the public.
On Monday, a man in his 40s identified as MAM was found dead and alone in the room he rented at a boarding house (kost) in Denpasar.
According to the chief of the village where MAM lived, the deceased got his AstraZeneca vaccine shot last Saturday.
Bali Health Agency Chief Ketut Suarjaya said MAM had been sick for about a week prior to his death, and had been resting up in his home a lot as he suffered from headaches and cold sweats. He also confirmed that MAM had a history of high blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol.
“We cannot conclude that [MAM] died because of the vaccine. After getting the vaccine there was an observation and he was fine,” Suarjaya said.
“So don’t make the connection that someone dying is due to COVID or someone dying a few days after getting the vaccine is due to the vaccine.”
