Man's death not directly related to COVID-19 vaccine: Hong Kong medical experts

HONG KONG -- Medical experts said Wednesday that the death of a chronically ill man was not directly linked to the COVID-19 vaccine that he took two days before his passing in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong's Expert Committee on Clinical Events Assessment Following COVID-19 Immunization held a meeting on Wednesday to discuss the man's case.

Ivan Hung, a co-convenor of the committee, told a press briefing that the panel unanimously agreed that the man's death was not directedly linked to the vaccine but most likely caused by coronary heart disease.

The 63-year-old man, who suffered from diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and central obesity, died at about 6:00 am on Sunday, a few hours after he was admitted to a hospital due to shortness of breath. He received the first jab of the vaccine on Friday.

Hung said that the committee will summarize the cause of the man's death and explain the incident in detail after receiving a comprehensive autopsy report.