An information campaign about reporting adverse reactions to vaccines was recommended by a coroner following an inquest into the death of a young Waterford soccer player who died days after the covid vaccine.
A narrative verdict was returned in the inquest into the death of Roy Butler, a previously healthy and fit 23-year-old who became unwell and then suffered a catastrophic brain bleed after receiving the Janssen covid vaccine.
Cork City Coroner Philip Comyn said that the medical evidence in the case was equivocal.
He noted that State pathologist Margot Bolster said: “I can neither rule in any link with the vaccine, nor can I rule it out.”
Mr Comyn said that there was insufficient evidence to say that the vaccine caused Mr Butler’s death.
Not all adverse reactions to vaccines are reported, he said, referring to evidence heard at the inquest.
In Mr Butler’s case, the first Johnson & Johnson heard of his death and its surrounding circumstances was on social media.
In his verdict, Mr Comyn said:
“Conversely the more data that is available the better able the appropriate authorities are to both plan ahead and inform people of this risk, rare and otherwise, in taking the vaccines and other medications.
“The less clarity or the more uncertainty there are about these issues the less likely people are to take vaccines.”
Mr Comyn made three recommendations.
One, that the Department of Health, the Health Products Regulatory Authority, and other appropriate bodies consider whether an information campaign should be undertaken to inform the public, firstly of the need to report adverse reactions to vaccines.
Secondly, to inform the general public who should report these adverse reactions.
Thirdly, that the HSE, and all medical personnel and professional bodies be reminded of the need to ensure adverse reactions are noted and reported promptly to the relevant authorities.
Mr Comyn sent the verdict to the family, via their solicitors Callan Tansey, rather than reconvening the court.
He commended the Butler family on their “quiet dignity and respect” during the difficult inquest.
The Butler family, who were present throughout the three-day inquest last month, said that they would now “take the time now to reflect on the verdict and the Coroner’s recommendations.”
They thanked friends, family, and the wider community for their support throughout the inquest. They said:
Mr Butler had only taken the vaccine because he was to travel to Dubai with friends and needed it to enter that country, they said.
“Roy Martin Butler, a 23-year-old active and healthy young gentleman, late of 37 O’Reilly Rd, Cork Rd, Co Waterford, received an initial JCOVDN (previously known as Covid-19 vaccine Jannsen) in his local pharmacy on August 12, 2021,” Mr Comyn said.
Between August 12 and 16, 2021, Mr Butler complained of feeling unwell and being shook, sweating, and headache, Mr Comyn said.
“On the 16th August 2021, Roy Butler came home from the gym early and went to his bedroom having told his mother he felt unwell.
“Approximately 10 minutes later he text his mother asking her to come up to his bedroom straight away.
“His mother found him trying to retch in a basket and when his father then came up he was no longer responding to voices and began convulsions.”
An ambulance was called and Roy Butler was given a tablet to stabilize the convulsions. He was initially transferred to Waterford University Hospital and then to Cork University Hospital where he was pronounced dead on the August, 17, 2021.
The cause of death was spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage.
