A Systematic Review of Autopsy Findings in Deaths After Covid-19 Vaccination
A Systematic Review of Autopsy Findings in Deaths After Covid-19 Vaccination
A Systematic Review of Autopsy Findings in Deaths After Covid-19 Vaccination
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A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF AUTOPSY FINDINGS IN DEATHS AFTER
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COVID-19 VACCINATION
Heather Gessling, MD3, Roger Hodkinson, MD3, William Makis, MD4, Harvey A.
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Risch, MD, PhD5, Mark Trozzi, MD3, Peter A. McCullough, MD, MPH3 6
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1University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
2Former
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Senior Pandemic Advisor to A Secretary, Health and Human Services
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(HHS, Washington, DC, former Assistant Professor in evidence-based medicine
present, advisor to The Wellness Company USA and Canada, Boca Raton, FL
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This preprint research paper has not been peer reviewed. Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4496137
Abstract
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Background: The rapid development and widespread deployment of COVID-19
vaccines, combined with a high number of adverse event reports, have led to
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concerns over possible mechanisms of injury including systemic lipid nanoparticle
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thrombogenicity, immune system dysfunction, and carcinogenicity. The aim of this
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vaccine administration and death using autopsies and post-mortem analysis.
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Methods: We searched for all published autopsy and necropsy reports relating to
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COVID-19 vaccination up until May 18th, 2023. We initially identified 678 studies
and, after screening for our inclusion criteria, included 44 papers that contained
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325 autopsy cases and one necropsy case. Three physicians independently
reviewed all deaths and determined whether COVID-19 vaccination was the direct
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death was the cardiovascular system (53%), followed by the hematological system
(17%), the respiratory system (8%), and multiple organ systems (7%). Three or
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more organ systems were affected in 21 cases. The mean time from vaccination to
This preprint research paper has not been peer reviewed. Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4496137
death was 14.3 days. Most deaths occurred within a week from last vaccine
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administration. A total of 240 deaths (73.9%) were independently adjudicated as
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Interpretation: The consistency seen among cases in this review with known
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COVID-19 vaccine adverse events, their mechanisms, and related excess death,
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there is a high likelihood of a causal link between COVID-19 vaccines and death
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in most cases. Further urgent investigation is required for the purpose of clarifying
our findings.
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Keywords: Autopsy; necropsy; COVID-19; COVID-19 vaccines; mRNA; SARS-
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This preprint research paper has not been peer reviewed. Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4496137
Research in context
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Evidence before this study
COVID-19 vaccines, with known mechanisms of injury to the human body and a
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substantial number of adverse event reports, represent an exposure that we
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PubMed and ScienceDirect for all published autopsy and necropsy reports relating
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COVID-19 vaccines, death, autopsy, and necropsy. We found that no
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comprehensive review of autopsy findings in a large series of deaths after COVID-
19 vaccination that accounts for the current state of knowledge has been
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conducted. The mechanisms of death from COVID-19 vaccination remain largely
unexplored.
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Because the state of knowledge has advanced since the time of the original
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events, their mechanisms, and related excess death, coupled with autopsy
causal link between COVID-19 vaccines and death among most of the 326
This preprint research paper has not been peer reviewed. Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4496137
included cases. This is the first study that indicates a high probability of causality
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between COVID-19 vaccine administration and death in many cases. To date, this
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helping the medical community to better understand fatal COVID-19 vaccine
syndromes.
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Implications of all the available evidence
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Further urgent investigation is required aimed at confirming our results and further
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elucidating the mechanisms underlying the described fatal outcomes with the goal
of risk mitigation for the large numbers of individuals who have taken one or more
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COVID-19 vaccines. If a large number of deaths are indeed causally linked to
into the censorship, silencing and persecution of doctors and scientists who raised
these concerns, and compensation for those who were harmed as a result of the
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This preprint research paper has not been peer reviewed. Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4496137
Introduction
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As of May 31st, 2023, SARS-CoV-2 has infected an estimated
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to this worldwide catastrophe, governments adopted a coordinated approach to
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interventions (NPIs) and novel gene-based vaccine platforms. The first doses of
vaccine were administered less than 11 months after the identification of the
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SARS-CoV-2 genetic sequence (in the United States, under the
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Operation Warp Speed initiative), which represented the fastest vaccine
mRNA-1273)3. All utilize mechanisms that can cause serious adverse events; most
involve the uncontrolled synthesis of the spike glycoprotein (SP) as the basis of the
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This preprint research paper has not been peer reviewed. Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4496137
through which COVID-19 vaccines produce adverse effects4,5,7,8,10,11. SP and/or
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subunits/peptide fragments can trigger ACE2 receptor degradation and
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system (RAS), resulting in possible enhanced inflammation, vasoconstriction, and
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promotes arterial and venous thrombosis5. Moreover, immune system cells that
have taken up the lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) then release them back into the
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circulation with elevated numbers of exosomes containing SP and microRNAs that
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play a role in inducing a signaling response in recipient cells at distant sites,
IRF7 and IRF9 suppression5. There is a distinct potential of a causal link between
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These findings are supported by the recent discovery that repeated COVID-19
levels of IgG4 antibodies which can lead to immune tolerance to SP, immune
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Neurotoxic effects of SP may cause or contribute to the post-COVID
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neuropathy7. Specific to the administration of viral vector COVID-19 vaccines
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induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) was identified in 2021 and
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with severe thrombocytopenia after vaccination9. The pathogenesis of this life-
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threatening side effect is currently unknown, though it has been proposed that
not clear, but it has been hypothesized that it may be caused by molecular mimicry
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myocarditis, free SP was detected in the blood while vaccinated controls had no
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circulating SP11. It has been demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 spike mRNA vaccine
sequences can circulate in the blood for at least 28 days after vaccination12. These
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This preprint research paper has not been peer reviewed. Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4496137
data indicate that adverse events may occur for an unknown period after
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vaccination, with SP playing an important potential etiological role.
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A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) document obtained from the
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COVID-19 vaccine (COMIRNATY), shows systemic distribution of the LNPs
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reached their highest concentration at the injection site, followed by the liver,
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spleen, adrenal glands, ovaries, and bone marrow (femur) over 48 hours13. This
biodistribution data suggests that SP may be expressed in cells from many vital
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organ systems, raising significant concerns regarding the safety profile of COVID-
Through May 5th, 2023, the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System
heart attacks, and 8,701 thrombocytopenia reports14. If the alarmingly high number
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This preprint research paper has not been peer reviewed. Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4496137
implications could be immense, including: the complete withdrawal of all COVID-
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19 vaccines from the global market, suspension of all remaining COVID-19
vaccine mandates and passports, loss of public trust in government and medical
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institutions, investigations and inquiries into the censorship, silencing and
persecution of doctors and scientists who raised these concerns, and compensation
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for those who were harmed as a result of the administration of COVID-19
vaccines. Using VAERS data alone to establish a causal link between COVID-19
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vaccination and death, however, is not possible due to many limitations and
confounding factors. er
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Autopsies are one of the most powerful diagnostic tools in medicine to
vaccines, with plausible mechanisms of injury to the human body and a substantial
number of adverse event reports, represent an exposure that may be causally linked
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possible causal links between COVID-19 vaccine administration and death using
Methods
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This preprint research paper has not been peer reviewed. Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4496137
We performed a systematic review of all published autopsy and necropsy
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reports relating to COVID-19 vaccination through May 18th, 2023. All autopsy
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included. All necropsy (analysis of dead tissue) studies that include COVID-19
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were imposed. The following databases were used: PubMed and ScienceDirect.
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Vaccine’, ‘COVID Vaccination’, and ‘Post-mortem’, ‘Autopsy’, or ‘Necropsy’.
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All selected studies were screened for relevant literature contained in their
references. Because the state of knowledge has advanced since the time of the
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original publications, we performed a contemporary review: three physicians (RH,
reached when two or more physicians adjudicated the case concordantly. For the
information for the other individuals. Given the presence of some missing data, we
This preprint research paper has not been peer reviewed. Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4496137
used all available information to calculate the descriptive statistics. Estimated age
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(exact age not given) and inferred time from last vaccine administration to death
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Results
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A database search yielded 678 studies that had potential to meet our
inclusion criterion. 562 duplicates were screened out. Out of the remaining 116
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papers, 36 met our specified inclusion criterion. Through further analysis of
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references, we located 18 additional papers, with 8 of them meeting our inclusion
cases and 1 necropsy case (heart). The mean age of death was 70.4 years and there
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This preprint research paper has not been peer reviewed. Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4496137
neurological (4%), immunological (3%), and gastrointestinal (1%). In 7% of cases,
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the cause of death was either unknown, non-natural (drowning, head injury, etc.) or
infection (Figure 2). One organ system was affected in 302 cases, two in 3 cases,
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three in 8 cases, and four or more in 13 cases (Figure 3).
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The number of days from vaccination until death was 14.3 (mean), 3
(median) irrespective of dose, 7.8 (mean), 3 (median) after one dose, 23.2 (mean),
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2 (median) after two doses, and 5.7 (mean), 2 (median) after three doses. The
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distribution of days from last vaccine administration to death is highly right
skewed, showing that most of the deaths occurred within a week from last
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vaccination (Figure 4). 240 deaths (73.9%) were independently adjudicated by
The one necropsy case was judged to be linked to vaccination with complete
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agreement.
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Discussion
fatal vaccine injury syndromes. The cardiovascular system was by far the most
This preprint research paper has not been peer reviewed. Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4496137
implicated organ system in death, followed by hematological, respiratory, multiple
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organ systems, neurological, immunological, and gastrointestinal (Figure 2), with
three or more organ systems affected in 21 cases (Figure 3). The majority of deaths
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occurred within a week from last vaccine administration (Figure 4) and were
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vaccination (Table S1). These results corroborate known COVID-19 vaccine-
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19 vaccination and death involving multiple organ systems, with a predominant
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implication of the cardiovascular and hematological systems. Criteria of causality
analogy, and reproducibility with each successive report of death after COVID-19
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vaccination.
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likely explains the high proportion of cardiovascular deaths seen in our study. They
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also highlight the involvement of multiple organ systems in some of the deaths
This preprint research paper has not been peer reviewed. Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4496137
COVID-19 vaccination in both children60 and adults61. A possible mechanism by
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which MIS occurs after vaccination could be the systemic distribution of the LNPs
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expression and circulation resulting in system-wide inflammation. A significant
proportion of cases were due to hematological system adverse events, which is not
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surprising given that VITT62 and pulmonary embolism (PE)63 have been reported
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caused by adverse effects to the respiratory system were also relatively common in
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our review, a finding that is in line with the possibility of developing acute
can still occur after COVID-19 vaccination and, as with the cardiovascular system,
SP. Given the average time (14.3 days) in which cases died after vaccination, a
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temporal association between COVID-19 vaccination and death among most cases
sequences can circulate in the blood for at least 28 days after vaccination12. Most
of the deployed vaccine platforms are associated with death, suggesting that they
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share a common feature that causes adverse effects, which is most likely SP.
This preprint research paper has not been peer reviewed. Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4496137
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The large number of COVID-19 vaccine induced deaths evaluated in this
review is consistent with multiple papers that report excess mortality after
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vaccination. Pantazatos and Seligmann found that all-cause mortality increased 0-
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associated deaths in the United States between February and August of 202169.
With similar findings, Skidmore estimated that 278,000 people may have died
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from the COVID-19 vaccine in the United States by December 202170. These
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concerning results were further elucidated by Aarstad and Kvitastein, who found
excess mortality from non-COVID-19 causes has been detected in many countries
May 5th, 2023, VAERS death report count of 35,32414, the number of deaths in the
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United States alone becomes 706,480. If this extrapolated number of deaths were
This preprint research paper has not been peer reviewed. Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4496137
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In summary, we identified a large series of deaths after COVID-19
vaccination, confirmed with autopsy and necropsy, to help the medical community
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better understand fatal COVID-19 vaccine syndromes. The consistency seen
among cases in this review with known COVID-19 vaccine adverse events, their
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mechanisms, and related excess death, coupled with autopsy confirmation and
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link between COVID-19 vaccines and death in most cases. Even with substantial
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evidence, our paper cannot definitively determine causality as our paper has all the
investigation is required aimed at confirming our results and further elucidating the
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mechanisms underlying the described fatal outcomes with the goal of risk
mitigation for the large numbers of individuals who have taken one or more
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COVID-19 vaccines.
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Acknowledgements
None.
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Conflict of Interest
affiliated with and receive salary support and or hold equity positions in The
This preprint research paper has not been peer reviewed. Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4496137
Wellness Company, Boca Raton, FL which had no role in funding, analysis, or
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publication.
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reports and a review of post-acute pulmonary embolism complications and
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follow-up. J Community Hosp Intern Med Perspect. 2021 Nov
a pregnant woman: A case report. Qatar Med J. 2022 Aug 9;2022(3):40. doi:
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66.Chen Y, Xu Z, Wang P, Li XM, Shuai ZW, Ye DQ, Pan HF. New-onset
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vaccination. Eur J Med Res. 2023 Feb 25;28(1):102. doi: 10.1186/s40001-
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68.Ajmera K, Bansal R, Wilkinson H, Goyal L. Gastrointestinal Complications
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mortality risk. Research Gate 2021 Oct 26. Epub Oct 26. DOI:
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United States population. BMC Infect Dis. 2023 Jan 24;23(1):51. doi:
71.Aarstad, J.; Kvitastein, O.A. Is there a Link between the 2021 COVID-19
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https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202302.0350.v1
72.Beesoon S, Bakal JA, Youngson E, Williams KP, Berzins SA, Brindle ME,
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During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2020-2021.
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Am J Public Health. 2022 Dec;112(12):1800-1803. doi:
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76.Msemburi W, Karlinsky A, Knutson V, Aleshin-Guendel S, Chatterji S,
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er
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Figure Legends
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Figure 1: Preferred Reporting Items for Systemic Reviews and Meta-Analyses
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Figure 2: Proportion of Cases by Affected Organ System
ev
Figure 3: Number of Affected Organ Systems by Cases
r
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Figure 4: Distribution of Time from Last Vaccine Administration to Death
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Table Legends
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Table 1: Characteristics of included studies on COVID-19 vaccination possibly
causing death.
iew
Supplemental Table 1: Detailed Case Information and Death Adjudications
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Figure 1.
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Figure 2.
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Figure 3.
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Figure 4.
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AUTHOR
HOJBERG
YEA
R
2023
COUNTR CASE AGE
Y
USA
S*
1
SEX VACCIN DOS
E
Moderna
E**
DISEASE ORGAN
SYSTEM
Eosinophili Immunologic
*** RE d
PERIOD PROCEDU
e
‘recent’ Autopsy
[16]
NUSHIDA
[17]
2023 Japan 1 14 F Pfizer 3
a
MIS
al
MIS
ie w 2 days Autopsy
r
ESPOSITO 2023 Italy 1 83 M Pfizer 2 COVID-19 MIS Autopsy
[19]
CHAVES
[20]
2022 Columbia 121 84 52% Sinovac,
(mean F
)
AZ,
Pfizer
er 1-2 SCD, MI,
PE
Cardiovascul
ar,
Hematologica
Autopsy
p e 2
l
Encephaliti MIS
s,
21 days Autopsy
t n
‘90s’ M Pfizer 3
l
Pericarditis Cardiovascul 14 days
ar
Autopsy
ir n
MURATA 2022 Japan 4 34 M Moderna 2 Cytokine Immunologic 1-10 days Autopsy
[24] (mean , Pfizer Storm al
)
SATOMI
[25]
2022
e p
Japan 1 61 F Pfizer 1 Myocarditi
s
Cardiovascul
ar
10 days Autopsy
SUZUKI
[26]
Pr
2021 Japan 54 68.1 37% Pfizer,
(mean F Moderna
1-2 Various Various <7 days Autopsy
This preprint research paper has not been peer reviewed. Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4496137
MELE [27] 2022 Italy 1
)
54 M J&J 1 VITT Hematologica ~21 days
e d
Autopsy
YOSHIMUR 2022
A [28]
Japan 1 88 F Moderna 2 VI-ARDS
l
Respiratory
ie w
18 days Autopsy
v
RONCATI 2022 Italy 3 72.3 2F Pfizer 1-2 VITT Hematologica 18-122 Autopsy
[29] (mean l days
r
Pfizer s (required ar (heart)
transplant,
KAMURA
[31]
2022 Japan 1 57 M Moderna 1
ee no death)
Thrombosi
s/rhabdom
MIS 53 days Autopsy
ISHIOKA
[32]
2022 Japan 1 67 M
t Pfizer
p 1
yolysis
Exacerbati
on of UIP
Respiratory 3 days Autopsy
GILL [33]
POMARA
2022
2022
USA
Italy
2
1
‘teena M
37
n
ge’
F o Pfizer
AZ
2
1
Myocarditi
s
VITT
Cardiovascul 3-4 days
ar
Hematologica 24 days
Autopsy
Autopsy
[34]
YEO [35] 2022 Singapore 28
ir n t
65.1 17.9
(mean % F
)
Pfizer,
Moderna
1-2 Various
l
Various <3 days Autopsy
AMERATU 2022
NGA [36]
GUNTHER 2021
e p
New
Zealand
Germany
1
1
57
54
F
M
Pfizer
AZ
1
1
Myocarditi
s
VITT
Cardiovascul
ar
Hematologica
3 days
~121
Autopsy
Autopsy
[37]
P
PERMEZEL 2022r Australia 1 63 M AZ 1 ADEM
l
Neurological
days
32 days Autopsy
This preprint research paper has not been peer reviewed. Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4496137
[38]
CHOI [39] 2021 Korea 1 22 M Pfizer 1 Myocarditi Cardiovascul 5 days
e d
Autopsy
SCHNEIDE
R [40]
2021 Germany 18 62.6 50% AZ,
(mean F Pfizer,
1-2
s
Various
ar
Various
v
) Moderna
, J&J
VERMA
[41]
2021 USA 1 42 M Moderna 2
r
Myocarditi
s
e Cardiovascul ~14 days Autopsy
ar
r
WIEDMAN 2021 Norway 4 41.8 F AZ 1 VITT Hematologica 7-25 days Autopsy
N [42] (mean l
POMARA
[43]
2021 Italy 2
)
43.5
(mean
1F AZ
ALTHAUS
[44]
2021 Germany 2
)
36
(mean
1F
t AZ
p 1 VITT Hematologica 16-17
l days
Autopsy
n
‘elder
ly’
1F
o Pfizer 1 COVID-19, Cardiovascul
MI, PE ar,
2-12 days Autopsy
HANSEN
[46]
2021 Germany
ir n
1 t
86 M Pfizer 1
Hematologica
l, Respiratory
Renal/respi MIS
ratory
26 days Autopsy
BARONTI
[47]
2022
e p
Italy 5 64
(mean
1F Pfizer,
Moderna
1-2
failure
MI Cardiovascul
ar
<1 day –
21 days
Autopsy
ITTIWUT
Pr
2022 Thailand 13
)
42.8 23% AZ, 1-3 Various Various 1-7 days Autopsy
This preprint research paper has not been peer reviewed. Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4496137
[48] (mean F
)
Sinophar
m,
e d
Sinovac,
Pfizer,
Moderna
ie w
v
GREINACH 2021 Germany 1 49 F AZ 1 VITT Hematologica 10 days Autopsy
ER [49] l
MAURIELL
O [50]
2021 Italy 1 48 F AZ
r
1 VITT
e Hematologica 39 days
l
Autopsy
r
BJØRNSTA 2021 Norway 1 ‘youn F AZ 1 VITT Hematologica ~10 days Autopsy
D-TUVENG g’ l
[51]
SCULLY
[52]
2021 U.K. 1 52 F AZ
ee 1 VITT Hematologica
l
~>10
days
Autopsy
CHOI [53]
SCHWAB
2021
2023
Korea
Germany
1
5
38
57.6 3F
M
t
J&J
Pfizer, p
1-2
1 SCLS
Myocarditi
Hematologica
l
Cardiovascul
2 days
<7 days
Autopsy
Autopsy
[54]
n
32-97 45% o Moderna
Pfizer, 1-2
s
COVID-19
ar
HOSHINO
[56]
2022 Japan
ir n
1 t
27
F
M
AZ,
Sinovac
Moderna 1 Myocarditi
s
Cardiovascul
ar
days
36 days Autopsy
COLOMBO
[57]
2023
e p
Italy 5 72
(mean
)
2F Pfizer 2 Various Respiratory,
MIS
188-298
days
Autopsy
MOSNA
[58]
Pr
2022 Slovakia 1 71 M Pfizer 2 GBS Neurological 10 days Autopsy
This preprint research paper has not been peer reviewed. Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4496137
KAIMORI
[59]
2022 Japan 1 72 F Pfizer 1 TMA Hematologica 2 days
l
e d
Autopsy
ie w
v
*Cases = Number of deaths examined post-mortem
**Dose = Cumulative number of vaccine doses received
***Period = Time (in days) from most recent vaccine administration to death
r
~ = Inferred Period (Estimated period using all available information, definitive period not given)
e
r
Table 1.
e
p e
o t
t n
ir n
e p
Pr
This preprint research paper has not been peer reviewed. Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4496137