Teen Dies Days After Getting Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine, CDC Investigates Case

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has launched an investigation into the death of the 13-year-old Michigan boy who died in his sleep days after getting his second dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

Officials for the Saginaw County Health Department said they are conducting an autopsy and have launched a probe into the boy’s death to determine whether it was related to the vaccine shot.

"The investigation as to whether there is a correlation between his death and vaccination is now at the federal level with CDC," Saginaw County Health Department Medical Director Dr. Delicia Pruitt and Health Officer Christina Harrington said in a joint statement, according to Detroit Free Press.

"Meanwhile, the health department continues to encourage families to speak with their physicians to weigh their own risks and benefits of vaccination," they said.

Martha Sharan, a spokeswoman for the CDC, also acknowledged the investigation in a statement.

“CDC is aware of a 13-year-old boy in Michigan who died after receiving a COVID-19 vaccination. This case is currently under investigation and until the investigation is complete, it is premature to assign a specific cause of death,” she said in a statement, according to ABC News.

Jacob Clynick, 13, received his second dose of the Pfizer shot at a Walgreens vaccination site on June 13. He died on the evening of June 15. He had just completed eighth grade.

Tammy Burages, the deceased boy’s aunt, said Clynick had complained of common symptoms after he received the vaccine, including fatigue and fever. On the night of his death, the teen also complained about a stomachache.

A preliminary autopsy found evidence suggesting that Clynick’s heart was enlarged when he died. Burages also said a medical examiner found fluid around the organ.

However, the Michigan Institute of Forensic Science and Medicine, which contracted the medical examiner for the county, refused to confirm the findings to the Free Press.

"We can verify that we are managing the investigation, and that's the extent of what I can share," Randy Pfau, director of operations for the institute said. He also noted that they are cooperating with the CDC.

According to USA Today, the boy’s death comes days after a CDC advisory committee acknowledged "a likely association" between the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines and the risk of heart problems in adolescents and young adults.