A total of 2,463 deaths have been reported to the government in relation to COVID-19 vaccinations, but only 27 cases (approximately 1%) have been recognized as causally linked.

A court has issued its first ruling acknowledging a causal link between a COVID-19 vaccine and death from acute myocardial infarction.

In June 2021, a man who had served as a public official for 23 years collapsed in front of a restroom ten days after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.

The cause of death was acute myocardial infarction. The bereaved family claimed compensation, stating that the vaccination was done based on trust in the government. However, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) refused compensation, citing pre-existing conditions such as hyperlipidemia as the cause.

The family eventually filed a lawsuit against the KDCA, and the Seoul Administrative Court recently ruled in favor of the family.

This ruling is significant as it is the first case to recognize a causal link for 'acute myocardial infarction,' not myocarditis or pericarditis.

According to SBS's report on the 2nd, the 'core basis of the court's ruling' can be summarized into four points.

First, the short period between vaccination and death makes it difficult to rule out a causal relationship. Second, even if hyperlipidemia was present, it cannot be definitively concluded as the direct and sole cause of death.

Third, the inference that death was caused by vaccination is not impossible based on medical theories or common experience. Fourth, the ruling reflects the intent of the 'Special Act on COVID-19 Vaccine Injury Compensation,' which stipulates that the scope of compensation should not be narrowly interpreted, as the vaccination was carried out under government recommendation.

A total of 2,463 deaths have been reported to the government in relation to COVID-19 vaccinations, but only 27 cases (approximately 1%) have been recognized as causally linked.

The KDCA has immediately appealed the ruling, stating that it differs from the existing criteria for recognizing causality. Therefore, if the ruling is finalized by a higher court, there is a possibility of a series of lawsuits from other bereaved families who were denied compensation for similar symptoms.

Reporter Lim Yo-hee