Evaluation of mortality attributable to SARS-CoV-2 vaccine administration using national level data from Qatar

Accurate determination of mortality attributable to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination is critical in allaying concerns about their safety. We reviewed every death in Qatar that occurred within 30 days of any SARS-CoV-2 vaccine administration between January 1, 2021 and June 12, 2022. Probability of association with SARS-CoV-2 vaccination was determined by four independent trained reviewers using a modified WHO algorithm. Among 6,928,359 doses administered, 138 deaths occurred within 30 days of vaccination; eight had a high probability (1.15/1,000,000 doses), 15 had intermediate probability (2.38/1,000,000 doses), and 112 had low probability or no association with vaccination. The death rate among those with high probability of relationship to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination was 0.34/100,000 unique vaccine recipients, while death rate among those with either high or intermediate probability of relationship to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination was 0.98/100,000 unique vaccine recipients. In conclusion, deaths attributable to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination are extremely rare and lower than the overall crude mortality rate in Qatar.


1.
High Probability 41-50 3 Sudden cardiac death No known comorbidities that may have contributed to death.

2.
High Probability 11-20 4 Sudden cardiac death No known comorbidities that may have contributed to death.
No known comorbidities that may have contributed to death. Physician notes indicate the possibility of vaccine induced arrythmia.

4.
High Probability 51-60 1 Sudden cardiac death No known comorbidities that may have contributed to death.

5.
High Probability 41-50 5 Sudden cardiac death No known comorbidities that may have contributed to death. Suffered outof-hospital cardiac arrest with no preceding symptoms recorded.

6.
High Probability 31-40 1 Sudden cardiac death No known comorbidities that may have contributed to death. Suffered outof-hospital cardiac arrest with no preceding symptoms recorded.

7.
High Probability 31-40 2 Sudden cardiac death No known comorbidities that may have contributed to death. Had chest and epigastric pain 3 days prior to death but no cardiac diagnosis was recorded.

8.
High Probability 31-40 3 Sudden cardiac death No known comorbidities that may have contributed to death.

9.
Intermediate Probability 61-70 10 Sudden cardiac death likely due to atherosclerotic heart disease History of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, atherosclerotic heart disease, which were stable. Patient was found unresponsive at home.

10.
Intermediate Probability 41-50 14 Sudden cardiac death due to ventricular fibrillation History of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, depression, and anxiety. Suffered out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and emergency responders noted ventricular fibrillation.

11.
Intermediate Probability 31-40 8 Sudden cardiac death No known comorbidities that may have contributed to death. Suffered outof-hospital cardiac arrest with no preceding symptoms.

12.
Intermediate Probability 71-80 15 Sudden cardiac death History of hypertension and cardiac arrythmia, but was stable and asymptomatic on a recent follow-up visit.

13.
Intermediate Probability 31-40 12 Sudden cardiac death History of obesity and gastritis, but otherwise no known comorbidities that may have contributed to death.

14.
Intermediate Probability 51-60 15 Sudden cardiac death No known prior medical history. Documentation in the medical records indicate death due to atherosclerotic heart disease with proximal left coronary artery thrombosis

15.
Intermediate Probability 41-50 11 Sudden cardiac death No known comorbidities that may have contributed to death.

16.
Intermediate Probability 41-50 16 Non-ST elevation myocardial infarction History of polycystic kidney disease presented with chest pain followed by cardiac arrest.

17.
Intermediate Probability 31-40 10 Sudden cardiac death History of hypertension. No other known comorbidities that may have contributed to death.

18.
Intermediate Probability 41-50 9 Sudden cardiac death History of asthma but no other known comorbidities that may have contributed to death.

19.
Intermediate Probability 31-40 12 ST-elevation acute anterolateral wall myocardial infarction-No known comorbidities that may have contributed to death. Presented with typical symptoms of acute coronary syndrome.

20.
Intermediate Probability 31-40 6 ST-elevation acute anterior wall myocardial infarction History of diabetes mellitus. Suffered out-of-hospital cardiac arrest with preceding symptoms of acute coronary syndrome.

21.
Intermediate Probability 51-60 8 ST-elevation acute inferior wall myocardial infarction No known comorbidities that may have contributed to death.

22.
Intermediate Probability 51-60 9 Sudden cardiac death No known comorbidities that may have contributed to death.

23.
Intermediate Probability 41-50 14 Sudden cardiac death No known comorbidities that may have contributed to death. Suffered outof-hospital cardiac arrest. Subsequent evaluation suggested possible acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

24.
Low Probability 51-60 6 Sudden cardiac death likely due to atherosclerotic heart disease Patient with known atherosclerotic heart disease and history of coronary artery bypass grafting

25.
Low Probability 51-60 3 Septic shock and multiorgan failure due to Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteremia History of diabetes mellitus, found collapsed at home. Septic shock with Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteremia and subsequent multi-organ failure.

26.
Low Probability 71-80 5 Sudden cardiac death History of dementia, chronic pressure ulcers, found collapsed at home.

27.
Low Probability 51-60 15 Sepsis due to Enterobacter cloacae bacteremia History of atherosclerotic heart disease, hypertension, ischemic cardiomyopathy with low ejection fraction, presented with decompensated heart failure. Diagnosed with Enterobacter cloacae bacteremia, acute kidney injury, and ischemic hepatitis.

28.
Low Probability 61-70 20 Sudden cardiac death Remote history of aortic valve replacement. History of hypertension, well controlled.
No other comorbidities that may have contributed to death.
Remote history of aortic valve replacement. History of hypertension and diabetes mellitus;, well controlled.
Suffered out-of-hospital cardiac arrest of unknown cause.

33.
Low Probability 61-70 19 Pulmonary edema due to decompensated heart failure Known case of atherosclerotic heart disease, coronary artery bypass grafting, with decompensation of heart failure.

34.
Low Probability 61-70 24 Sudden cardiac death History of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

36.
Low Probability 31-40 13 Sudden cardiac death History of diabetes mellitus and atherosclerotic heart disease, poor adherent to treatment. Suffered out-of-hospital cardiac arrest most likely secondary to numerous underlying comorbidities.

37.
Low Probability 31-40 23 Sudden cardiac death History of uncontrolled diabetes with vascular and neuropathic complications, poor adherence.

49.
Low Probability 51-60 10 Sudden cardiac death History of diabetes mellitus and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, possible atherosclerotic heart disease.

50.
Low Probability 31-40 21 Sudden cardiac death likely myocardial infarction History of hypertension, suffered out-of-hospital cardiac arrest with preceding symptoms suggestive of acute coronary syndrome.

51.
Low Probability 51-60 24 ST-elevation anterolateral acute myocardial infarction No known comorbidities, suffered out-of-hospital cardiac arrest with electrocardiographic changes suggestive of acute coronary syndrome.

52.
Low Probability 21-30 22 Sudden cardiac death due to ventricular fibrillation No known comorbidities, suffered out-of-hospital cardiac arrest with ventricular fibrillation noted by emergency responders.