Understanding Autopsy Results of Individuals Vaccinated Against Covid-19
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In the realm of medical science, the limitations of external examination through biomedical devices highlight the enduring value of autopsies—derived from the Greek term meaning "to see for oneself." Autopsies remain essential for uncovering the internal circumstances surrounding a person's death, allowing for the evaluation of causes and effects related to diseases or medical interventions.
A pressing question arises regarding the internal conditions of individuals who passed away shortly after receiving Covid-19 vaccinations: Was the vaccine a contributing factor in their deaths? This inquiry is vital for various reasons, including pension claims, public reassurance regarding vaccine safety, and investigating reports of vaccine-related fatalities.
To delve into this matter, I utilized PubMed, a comprehensive biomedical literature database, searching with the terms “vaccine AND (covid OR sars-cov-2) AND (autopsy OR postmortem OR necropsy)”. This search yielded 55 papers, of which only 10 focused on autopsy studies pertinent to Covid-19 vaccines. A similar search on medRxiv, a preprint repository for biomedical research, resulted in 62 papers, none of which were applicable. The following sections will summarize the findings of these 10 autopsy studies.
Note: All vaccines referenced herein pertain to Covid-19 vaccines, specifically the mRNA and DNA variants commonly administered. Unless otherwise specified, cases that underwent autopsy were found to be SARS-CoV-2 negative.
Additionally, Vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) is a recognized risk associated with DNA vaccines from AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson, particularly in younger women. This condition is characterized by severe blood clotting and low platelet counts, leading to a heightened risk of bleeding. A specific biomarker for VITT is the presence of anti-platelet factor 4 (anti-PF4) antibodies.
Autopsy Case Series
1. Germany (Scheider et al., 2021)
As of May 31, 2021, Germany recorded 873 deaths temporally associated with vaccination. With a vaccinated population of 36.1 million, this represents a mere 0.0024% of the total. Schneider et al. (2021) investigated 18 cases, commissioned by local public prosecutors from Bielefeld, Detmold, and Münster, which collectively serve approximately 3.24 million residents.
Among these 18 autopsies, nine individuals had received the AstraZeneca DNA vaccine (Vaxzevria), five were administered Pfizer’s mRNA vaccine (Comirnaty), three received Moderna’s mRNA vaccine (Spikevax), and one was given the Johnson & Johnson DNA vaccine (Janssen). Details on gender, dosage, timing of vaccination relative to death, autopsy results, causes of death, and any potential links to vaccination are presented in the accompanying table:
In 13 of the 18 cases, the deaths were attributed to pre-existing conditions, primarily cardiovascular issues like coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction, with no link to vaccination found. In one instance, a 65-year-old male who received one dose of Pfizer's mRNA vaccine died from myocarditis, but the connection to vaccination was deemed 'possible' due to significant pre-existing health problems.
Evidence of VITT appeared in cases 3, 12, 14, and 18, with positive anti-PF4 antibodies identified. However, VITT was conclusively linked to the cause of death in only cases 3 and 14, while it was considered 'unlikely' in case 12 and 'possible' in case 18.
2. Germany (Edler et al., 2021)
In contrast to Schneider et al., who focused on three German cities, Edler et al. (2021) concentrated solely on Hamburg. By February 2021, they were aware of 22 post-vaccination deaths within their jurisdiction and performed autopsies on three cases:
- Case 1: A female nursing home resident died five days post-Pfizer vaccination, with pre-existing heart conditions. The autopsy indicated pulmonary embolism as the cause of death, without any link to vaccination.
- Case 2: A male nursing home resident died seven days after receiving the Pfizer vaccine. He tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 on day 12 post-vaccination and succumbed to Covid-19 pneumonia, with the autopsy confirming pneumonia as the cause, again with no connection to the vaccine.
- Case 3: A male resident died two days after vaccination. Despite initial concerns about vaccine-related complications, the autopsy revealed severe arteriosclerosis and determined the cause to be a recurrent heart attack.
3. Norway (Weidmann et al., 2021)
In Norway, both Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines were utilized initially, followed by the AstraZeneca DNA vaccine. Shortly after the latter's rollout, six VITT cases were identified among previously healthy healthcare workers, resulting in a VITT incidence rate of 0.045% (one case per 22,000 vaccinated).
Weidmann et al. conducted autopsies on four VITT cases:
- Case 1: A 34-year-old woman died 11 days after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine, with autopsy findings consistent with VITT, marking Norway's first recorded case.
- Case 2: A 42-year-old woman who developed VITT was hospitalized and died shortly thereafter; the autopsy confirmed VITT-related complications.
- Case 3: A 37-year-old woman also developed VITT after vaccination, leading to a fatal outcome confirmed by autopsy.
- Case 4: A 54-year-old woman died two days after hospitalization for VITT, with autopsy findings validating the diagnosis.
4. Italy (Pomara et al., 2021)
Pomara et al.'s study is less extensive, covering just two cases in Italy:
- Case 1: A healthy 50-year-old male died 16 days after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine, with autopsy findings indicating VITT as the cause of death.
- Case 2: A healthy 37-year-old female died 24 days post-vaccination, with autopsy results similarly attributing her death to VITT.
Other Case Reports
In addition to the aforementioned studies, six individual autopsy reports related to post-vaccine deaths have been documented:
- Hansen et al. (2021), Germany: An 86-year-old male who died 26 days post-Pfizer vaccination had multiple organ failures, yet the autopsy did not definitively link Covid-19 to his death.
- Choi et al. (2021), South Korea: A 22-year-old male died five days after vaccination, with myocarditis confirmed as the likely cause of death.
- Verma et al. (2021), U.S.: A 42-year-old male died about two weeks after vaccination, with myocarditis identified as the probable cause.
- Mauriello et al. (2021), Italy: A 48-year-old female with pre-existing thrombocytopenia died post-vaccination, but VITT was ruled out as a cause.
- Permezel et al. (2021), Australia: A 63-year-old man died after developing ADEM, with no vaccine-related evidence found.
- Bjornstad-Tuveng et al. (2021), Norway: A woman in her 30s died after developing VITT following vaccination, with autopsy findings confirming the diagnosis.
What Should We Be Aiming to Discover?
To ascertain potential vaccine involvement in deaths, autopsies must focus on specific biomarkers indicative of vaccine-induced immune responses within the body. Indicators like elevated serum tryptase or anti-PF4 antibodies can signal adverse reactions such as anaphylaxis or VITT.
However, the challenge remains: how can we determine if the vaccine contributed to the cause of death? This issue is compounded by gaps in knowledge regarding which biomarkers to investigate.
For instance, the case of Bjornstad-Tuveng highlights the risk of missing potential vaccine-related complications due to a lack of understanding at the time of autopsy. Subsequent analysis revealed anti-PF4 antibodies, leading to a revised conclusion of VITT as the cause of death.
Autopsies primarily assess tissue damage patterns, but additional biochemical analyses are often optional, leaving room for significant oversight.
Insights from Autopsy Findings
From the 10 autopsy studies encompassing 33 post-vaccine deaths, the findings indicate that:
- 19 cases were unrelated to vaccination.
- 9 cases were confirmed as VITT.
- 2 cases were suspected but not confirmed as VITT.
- 2 cases involved myocarditis likely induced by the mRNA vaccine.
- 1 case exhibited possible myocarditis linked to the mRNA vaccine.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reviewed several autopsy findings, affirm