KUALA LUMPUR: There are no objections by the Health Ministry to having the autopsy report of the late Revnesh Kumar reviewed by an independent panel, but this decision would depend on the teenager’s parents, says Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang.

       The Deputy Health Minister II said this in response to calls by MPs for the government to have an independent panel to carry out a neutral evaluation on the autopsy report of the late 13-year-old Revnesh who died earlier this month, 18 days after receiving his first Covid-19 vaccine jab.

       “I think the Health Ministry has no objections to this and it depends on the parents.

       “Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin himself has already met and provided detailed explanations to Revnesh's parents,” Aaron told the Dewan Rakyat during the Question and Answer session on Thursday (March 17).

       Earlier, Dr Kelvin Yii (PH-Bandar Kuching) said the evaluation carried out by the independent panel would be helpful in allaying fears among parents over the side effects of Covid-19 vaccinations involving their children.

       On Wednesday (March 16), Charles Santiago (PH-Klang) had raised the same issue, saying that although the government concluded that Revnesh's cause of death was unrelated to the Covid-19 vaccination, there were many people who did not believe it.

       Meanwhile, Aaron also said that based on 451 reports of deaths among Covid-19 vaccine recipients that have been evaluated by the Covid-19 Vaccine Pharmacovigilance Special Committee (JFK), none were found directly linked to the vaccine received.

       This was out of the overall 607 reports received by the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) involving deaths among Covid-19 vaccine recipients, of which another 156 reports were still under investigation before being assessed by JFK, said Aaron.

       Each report is investigated and evaluated thoroughly by the investigating team and the JFK, which consists of experts from various fields such as cardiology, immunology, neurology, pathology as well as representatives from universities and the private sector, he said.

       “As of March 11, 2022, there were no reports of deaths that could be directly linked to the Covid-19 vaccine.

       “Throughout the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme, the NPRA has received 607 reports involving suspected deaths among Covid-19 vaccine recipients and 451 reports have completed investigation and evaluation by the JFK.

       “The cause of death was determined based on clinical assessment and autopsy report. It is confidential information and cannot be disclosed to the public except with the permission of the next-of-kin,” he said.