An Australian senator expressed concern about the delayed update to Australia’s Database of Adverse Event Notifications (DAEN) by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) regarding COVID-19 vaccine-related deaths, including those of two children aged 7 and 9. An Australian doctor’s Freedom of Information request revealed TGA’s neglect in updating DAEN with these deaths. The senator called for an independent review of TGA concerning the conflict of interest. The TGA’s Vaccine Safety Investigation Group (VSIG) is the pre-existing independent review vehicle for vaccines in unexpected instances. TGA’s Deputy Secretary for Health Products Regulation defended TGA’s decision to recommend vaccines and emphasized the rarity of extreme adverse reactions. Another Australian doctor voiced concern over doctors struggling to help those suffering from adverse events as compensation claims were often denied, and overall reluctance to discuss these events persisted.
Australia’s failure to report child COVID-19 vaccine deaths is alarming.
