Police investigate deaths of elderly in private clinic in SP

The Civil Police investigates the cause of death of the elderly in less than 24 hours in a long-stay institution in Jardim Japan, north of the capital of São Paulo. There were three deaths from the afternoon of the 19th to the early hours of the 20th, but only two police reports were prepared.

The first death, that of a 95-year-old woman, occurred on Tuesday afternoon (19). The family did not report the fact to the police and, therefore, is not being investigated. In the early hours of Wednesday (20), João Guilherme Filho, 71, and Ordália Maria Marques Dias, 78, died. According to family members, the two elderly people had symptoms such as fever and diarrhea.

On the 18th, about 40 residents of the house were vaccinated with a booster dose against the coronavirus and another against influenza (flu). The health surveillance of the city and state of São Paulo formed a commission to investigate the case and reported that any possibility of a link between the deaths and any reaction of the vaccinated is completely ruled out. Both instances consider the investigations closed.

The SSP (Secretariat of Public Security) states that the two suspicious deaths were registered by the 20th Police District (Água Fria) and are being investigated through a police inquiry initiated by the 19th Police District (Vila Maria).

“The expert reports found that the deaths were caused by pulmonary thromboembolism and were analyzed by the police authority. The vaccine vials from the same batches applied to the elderly were seized and sent to the Adolfo Lutz Institute to be submitted to the relevant expertise”, says the SSP in note. “Investigations are continuing to clarify all the circumstances of the deaths,” added the secretary.

In the week of the deaths, a team from the health surveillance of the city and state of São Paulo went to the place and met with the owners of the establishment, which is private.

In its report, written on Friday (29), the Center for Epidemiological Surveillance, a state agency, states that it started to investigate a possible adverse event after application of the Janssen Covid vaccine and the Butantan influenza vaccine and concluded that there is no causal relationship. “The three elderly people died between 24 and 36 hours after vaccination, so the period not compatible for a TTS [Síndrome de Trombose com Trombocitopenia]”, says the CVE.

The thrombotic phenomenon, according to the center, is an extremely rare event and is more common among younger people. “The onset of symptoms occurs from the fourth day after vaccination. In addition, thrombocytopenia is expected [plaquetas baixas]”, says the report.

A blood count performed on one of the elderly showed normal platelet levels.

“The Covid-19 vaccine from the Janssen laboratory, from the same batch used at the ILPI, was applied to 229,399 people over 60 years of age” in the city of São Paulo with no records of adverse events, the center’s specialists wrote.

“The municipality of São Paulo received 206,520 doses of influenza vaccine from the Butantan laboratory. Almost all doses were applied and there were no records of serious adverse events post-vaccination”, they concluded.

The city council followed the same line, stating that “the Post-Vaccination Adverse Events working group” concluded that the three deaths are unrelated to Covid-19 vaccination.

The press office of the Ministry of Health said, by telephone this Tuesday (3), that it was communicated by the state secretary of São Paulo and that the matter is closed.

The folder reinforced that “pulmonary thromboembolism is a frequent event in bedridden elderly, especially with comorbidities and infectious conditions, of multiple possible causes”.

To the police, an employee of the clinic told that almost all the elderly in the place “had diarrhea and/or vomiting”. The report is included in the incident reports.

According to the doctor João Roberto Oba, president of the Association of Medical Examiners of the State of São Paulo (Amlesp), pulmonary thromboembolism is a common condition among the elderly population. He spoke in general terms, without referring to specific cases.

“The biodynamic agent is any internal or external alteration of the organism, which causes shock or multiple organ failure. Among these alterations, pulmonary thromboembolism”, explains the specialist.

“Elderly patients are prone to [ao tromboembolismo pulmonar] because they are more bedridden or sitting down, this favors the formation of clots”, he adds.

Anvisa said last week that it has not received notifications about the three cases, but that it follows the investigations with the Interinstitutional Committee on Pharmacovigilance of Vaccines and Immunobiologicals (Cifavi).

wanted by Sheet this Tuesday (3), the agency did not respond until the publication of this text.

For infectious disease specialist Renato Kfouri, serious adverse events after vaccination with coronavirus or flu immunizers are rare.

“There is no record of serious adverse events with any of these vaccines, nor when applied simultaneously. [no mesmo dia], but needs to be investigated. It’s easier to have been an outbreak of Covid-19, flu or respiratory virus”, says he, who is also director of the Brazilian Society of Immunizations (SBIm).

The vaccines were administered at the institution where the elderly were, by professionals from UBS Vila Maria/Doctor Luiz Paulo Gnecco on Monday.

Adriana Marques Dias de Sá, Ordália’s daughter, said that, when she went to the institution after her mother’s death, she was informed of the other cases. “I thought it best to call the police, I knew about the other cases. The police themselves oriented me to file a police report. I haven’t even been able to cremate my mother’s body yet, a request she made to me, because a policeman said he might need exhume it,” said Adriana.

Janssen said it carefully reviews reports of adverse events in individuals receiving its drugs or vaccines. “Any report about a person who has received our Covid-19 vaccine and our assessment of that report is shared with Anvisa and other appropriate health authorities,” the company said.

Butantan stated that it had not been notified by any authority.

The partners of Lar Jardim Japão declined to grant interviews, claiming that, according to professional ethics, they are not allowed to pass on patient information.

The institution has been active since 2016, according to data from the CNPJ at the Federal Revenue, and continues to operate after the deaths and an inspection by the Municipal Surveillance System. The monthly fee for on-site accommodation is in the range of R$ 2,500.

Ordália has lived there since March 2021 along with another daughter, who has cerebral palsy. Satisfied with the level of organization and infrastructure, Adriana says she intends to keep her sister in the same place.