Portuguese health worker, 41, dies two days after getting the Pfizer covid vaccine as her father says he 'wants answers'

  • Sonia Acevedo suffered a 'sudden death' on New Year's Day 48 hours after jab
  • The 41-year-old mother-of-two worked in paediatrics at a hospital in Porto 
  • Ms Acevedo had not suffered any adverse side-effects after being vaccinated
  • An autopsy is expected to take place either today or tomorrow
  • UPDATE: In a press release sent out on January 5th the Portuguese Ministry of Justice advised that the preliminary results of the autopsy 'did not establish a direct relationship with the vaccine against Covid-19'

By NATALIA PENZA FOR THE MAILONLINE

Published: | Updated:

A Portuguese health worker has died two days after getting the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine.

Sonia Acevedo, 41, suffered a 'sudden death' at home on New Year's Day 48 hours after receiving the jab. An autopsy is expected to take place later today or tomorrow.

The mother-of-two, who worked in paediatrics at the Portuguese Institute of Oncology in Porto, is not said to have suffered any adverse side-effects after being vaccinated.

Ms Acevedo's father Abilio Acevedo told Portuguese daily Correio da Manha: 'She was okay. She hadn't had any health problems. 

Sonia Acevedo, 41, suffered a 'sudden death' on New Year's Day just 48 hours after receiving the jab
The mother-of-two, who worked in paediatrics at the Portuguese Institute of Oncology in Porto, is not said to have suffered any adverse side-effects after being vaccinated

Sonia Acevedo, 41, suffered a 'sudden death' on New Year's Day just 48 hours after receiving the jab

'She had the Covid-19 vaccine but she didn't have any symptoms. I don't know what happened. I just want answers.

'I want to know what led to my daughter's death.'

Ms Acevedo's employers confirmed the dead woman had been vaccinated against coronavirus on December 30 and said they had not been notified of any 'undesirable effect' when she was jabbed or in the hours afterwards.

The Portuguese Institute of Oncology said in a statement: 'With regards to the sudden death of an operational assistant from the Porto IPO on January 1, 2021, the Board of Directors confirms the event and expresses sincere regret to family and friends in the certainty that this loss is also felt here.'

It added: 'The explanation of the cause of death will follow the usual procedures in these circumstances.'

Ms Acevedo had worked at IPO Porto, a national and international reference health institution in cancer treatment, research and education, for more than 10 years.

She lived with her family in Maia near Porto but died at her partner's home in Trofa half an hour's drive north of the northern Portuguese city.

She changed her profile pic on Facebook shortly after her jab to post a selfie with a face mask on and the message: 'Covid-19 vaccinated.'

Ms Acevedo worked in paediatrics at the Portuguese Institute of Oncology in Porto

Ms Acevedo worked in paediatrics at the Portuguese Institute of Oncology in Porto

Her father told Portuguese press he got the call to say she had been found dead around 11am last Friday morning hours after they ate together on New Years Eve, adding: 'My daughter left home and I never saw her alive again.'

Ms Acevedo's daughter Vania Figueredo said her mum had only complained about the 'normal' discomfort in the area where she was jabbed but was otherwise fine.

The health worker was one of 538 Porto IPO workers who received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

Portugal's Ministry of Health has been informed.

Portugal, with a population of just over 10 million, has reported 7,118 deaths and more than 427,000 cases.

After a relatively mild first wave, cases rose sharply in the second and have spiked again since Christmas.

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