Stroke and death subsequent to Moderna
June 14, 2026
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June 14, 2026
Stroke and death subsequent to Moderna
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Dr John Campbell Episodes Around June 14, 2026
Episode 126 of 364 — walk the feed in the order it was published.
20:57This episodeStroke and death subsequent to Moderna
Summary
Fatal Post COVID mRNA-Vaccine Associated Cerebral Ischemia
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37064937/
Keywords: COVID-19; Moderna vaccine; cerebral edema; neurology; stroke.
McMillan N, Rosenberg HJ, Anderson MP, Pal P, Stephenson K, Fehnel CR. Fatal Post COVID mRNA-Vaccine Associated Cerebral Ischemia. Neurohospitalist. 2023 Apr;13(2):156-158. doi: 10.1177/19418744221136898. Epub 2022 Dec 5. PMID: 37064937; PMCID: PMC10091442.
Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
Background
Venous thromboses have been linked to several COVID-19 vaccines
Here we describe a case of post-Moderna COVID-19 vaccination arterial infarct,
with vaccine-associated diffuse cortical edema,
that was complicated by refractory intracranial hypertension.
Case summary
24 hrs after receiving her first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine,
a 30-year-old female developed severe headache.
Three weeks later she was admitted with subacute headache and confusion.
Imaging initially showed scattered cortical thrombosis with an elevated opening pressure on lumbar puncture.
An external ventricular drain was placed,
but she continued to have elevated intracranial pressure.
Ultimately, she required a hemicraniectomy,
but intractable cerebral edema resulted in her death.
Pathology was consistent with thrombosis and associated inflammatory response.
Conclusion
Though correlational, her medical team surmised that the mRNA vaccine may have contributed to this presentation.
The side effects of COVID-19 infection and vaccination are still incompletely understood.
Though complications are rare, clinicians should be aware of presentations like this one.
More information
Had prior asymptomatic COVID-19 infection three months earlier
24-hours after first dose of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Moderna).
Developed severe, atypical throbbing bi-frontal headache
Headaches were atypical
(no prior headaches)
Three weeks after vaccination
Developed blurred vision and confusion
Bifrontal headache with photophobia
Lumbar puncture revealed lymphocytosis
Broad spectrum antimicrobial coverage was started.
Her mental status acutely worsened later that evening
New left hemiparesis.
Elevated D-dimer
CSF cultures and PCR testing returned negative