Belagavi ASHA worker, who was given Covishield, died due to cerebral venous thrombosis: Official

A 34-year-old ASHA worker, Jaitunbi Salim Sanadi, from Belagavi, who had taken Covishield vaccine on January 22, died on Wednesday (February 3). This is the third death in Karnataka of a vaccinated person. One person had died in Ballari and another in Shivamogga.

The woman's death has left her 16-year-old son without parents as he had already lost his father at a young age. He is currently under the care of his paternal grandparents in Nippani taluk.

The Karnataka Health Department officials say that a verbal autopsy has been done and that the 13-member district AEFI committee has concluded that the death was not due to Covid-19 vaccination. A verbal autopsy is a method of gathering information about symptoms and circumstances for a deceased individual to determine their cause of death.

Also read — Deceased Belagavi ASHA worker had previous complaints of headache, say officials; deny link between Covid-19 vaccine and death

The cause of death is said to be cerebral venous thrombosis. It is a condition in which a vein in the brain develops a blood clot. She had no comorbidities.

Dr Ishwar Gadad, in-charge district immunisation officer, Belagavi, told DH, "She had recurrent headaches and vomiting episodes, and had been consulting doctors in Chikkodi regarding it even before the vaccination as per the family. When she was admitted in KLE hospital, a CT scan was done and the woman was diagnosed with cerebral venous thrombosis."

She was cremated without an autopsy on Friday at 9 pm. She was vaccinated in Galataga Primary Health Centre (PHC) where she used to work.

For eight days, she participated in all programmes of the PHC including on the eve of pulse-polio vaccination held on January 31. She did the house-to-house survey with anganwadi workers on January 30 and went home saying she has a headache. At 3 am, she started vomiting, and went to the local doctor who prescribed Paracetamol and antacid.
"The pain resumed in the morning. She thereafter went to a doctor in Nippani who prescribed a CT scan, in which they diagnosed her. She was referred to the district hospital afterwards," Dr Gadad said.

From the district hospital, she was shifted to KLE Hospital where her condition deteriorated by the hour. On February 3, she was declared brain dead. The next day, her family members took her home against medical advice. She passed away on her way home, the family members told district health officials.

"Neurologist Dr Meenal Joshi, Dr Giridhar Patil, a senior physician from the district hospital and Dr Shivaswamy MS from JNM Medical College, who is the head of Community Medicine, are among the 13-member district AEFI (adverse event following immunisation) committee who discussed the verbal autopsy findings and classified her death as a coincidental event," said Dr Gadad.