Family members say an Effingham, Kansas, woman died after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine earlier this week. In the obituary posted with Becker Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home, family members said 68-year-old Jeanie M. Evans died unexpectedly on Wednesday at the Stormont-Vail Hospital after having a reaction to a COVID-19 vaccine. EMS dispatch records note a patient had an allergic reaction at a vaccine clinic site — the Keystone Learning Services center in Ozawkie — just after 4 p.m. on Tuesday. Dispatch identified the patient as a 68-year-old female having difficulty breathing and speaking — adding that she had been injected with an EpiPen and that there were two nurses with her on the scene. At one point EMS requested information about the availability of Life Star — air transport to the hospital. In her obituary, family members said Evans had worked several places in her life, most recently as a clerk for Main Street Food & Fuel, and that she was serving on the Effingham City Council. “It was shocking,” said Effingham City Councilman Kirk Wohlgemuth. “I mean, you don’t expect that kind of thing to happen.”Wohlgemuth said Evans was filling in on the council as part of a short-term vacancy. Officials with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment said in a statement that they were made aware of the death of an Atchison County resident who was vaccinated in Jefferson County, and that the death will be fully investigated. “KDHE became aware this morning of a death of a 68-year-old Atchison County resident. The resident was vaccinated in Jefferson County, and according to the Local Health Department, appropriate CDC guidelines were followed,” the department said in the statement. “During the waiting period following the vaccine administration, the individual began experiencing anaphylaxis and medical treatment was provided. The resident was transported to a local hospital where the individual later passed away. The death will be fully investigated in accordance with standard protocol. Until the investigation is complete, it is premature to assign a specific cause of death.”The Local Health Department entered the death into VAERS, the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, a national vaccine safety surveillance program run by Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Anytime a death or any adverse event occurs post vaccination, the case must be reported into VAERS. This process allows the CDC and FDA to monitor adverse events that could be related to the vaccination. As is standard protocol for any death reported in VAERS, it will be fully reviewed. The VAERS report will help to inform a more thorough investigation that can conclusively identify the specific cause of death of the individual.”Our thoughts and condolences go out to the individual’s family.”KDHE did not specify which vaccine Evans received Services for Evans, according to her obituary, are scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday at the Becker Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home in Atchison. A representative with the funeral home said the family has asked for privacy at this time. KMBC 9 has reached out to the Jefferson County Health Department, which hosted Tuesday’s vaccine clinic, to learn more. The Shawnee County coroner said there will be an autopsy for Evans.
Family members say an Effingham, Kansas, woman died after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine earlier this week.
In the obituary posted with Becker Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home, family members said 68-year-old Jeanie M. Evans died unexpectedly on Wednesday at the Stormont-Vail Hospital after having a reaction to a COVID-19 vaccine.
EMS dispatch records note a patient had an allergic reaction at a vaccine clinic site — the Keystone Learning Services center in Ozawkie — just after 4 p.m. on Tuesday.
Dispatch identified the patient as a 68-year-old female having difficulty breathing and speaking — adding that she had been injected with an EpiPen and that there were two nurses with her on the scene.
At one point EMS requested information about the availability of Life Star — air transport to the hospital.
In her obituary, family members said Evans had worked several places in her life, most recently as a clerk for Main Street Food & Fuel, and that she was serving on the Effingham City Council.
“It was shocking,” said Effingham City Councilman Kirk Wohlgemuth. “I mean, you don’t expect that kind of thing to happen.”
Wohlgemuth said Evans was filling in on the council as part of a short-term vacancy.
Officials with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment said in a statement that they were made aware of the death of an Atchison County resident who was vaccinated in Jefferson County, and that the death will be fully investigated.
“KDHE became aware this morning of a death of a 68-year-old Atchison County resident. The resident was vaccinated in Jefferson County, and according to the Local Health Department, appropriate CDC guidelines were followed,” the department said in the statement.
“During the waiting period following the vaccine administration, the individual began experiencing anaphylaxis and medical treatment was provided. The resident was transported to a local hospital where the individual later passed away. The death will be fully investigated in accordance with standard protocol. Until the investigation is complete, it is premature to assign a specific cause of death.
“The Local Health Department entered the death into VAERS, the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, a national vaccine safety surveillance program run by Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Anytime a death or any adverse event occurs post vaccination, the case must be reported into VAERS. This process allows the CDC and FDA to monitor adverse events that could be related to the vaccination. As is standard protocol for any death reported in VAERS, it will be fully reviewed. The VAERS report will help to inform a more thorough investigation that can conclusively identify the specific cause of death of the individual.
“Our thoughts and condolences go out to the individual’s family.”
KDHE did not specify which vaccine Evans received
Services for Evans, according to her obituary, are scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday at the Becker Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home in Atchison. A representative with the funeral home said the family has asked for privacy at this time.
KMBC 9 has reached out to the Jefferson County Health Department, which hosted Tuesday’s vaccine clinic, to learn more.
The Shawnee County coroner said there will be an autopsy for Evans.