Scott Morrison has warned against rushing to conclusions after the death of a NSW woman who developed blood clots a day after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.
The 48-year-old woman was a diabetic, and preliminary tests have not found a conclusive link to the vaccination, Daily Mail Australia reports.
The prime minister on Thursday said the woman's death was still being investigated by state and federal authorities.
"There is a lot more to understand and learn about that issue and I would caution others in making conclusions about this at this point as well," he told reporters near Newman in Western Australia's Pilbara region.
"We've been very transparent, very transparent when it comes to information on these issues and people can expect us to do that."
Mr Morrison said potential concerns around vaccine hesitancy meant it was important that the matter was fully investigated by medical experts.
"I think it's important, because of the fact that people can have concerns, that we follow that important process, to inform ourselves properly," he said.
A NSW Health spokesperson said the department would not speculate on individual cases, but offered condolences to the family of the woman who died.
"The death of anyone is always a tragedy and our condolences are with the family and loved ones of the person who has passed away," the spokesperson said in a statement on Thursday night.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is responsible for regulating and monitoring the use of COVID-19 vaccines in Australia, they said, but NSW Health is notified when a serious or unexpected adverse event occurs.
"Many conditions can arise during normal life, whether or not a vaccine is administered, but it remains important to report any new serious or unexpected events so that safety can be appropriately monitored," they said.
It is not yet known which vaccine the woman received.
The TGA was investigating the case and seeking further clinical information including test results from NSW Health, the federal Department of Health said in a statement on Thursday night.
"It has not yet been established whether there is any link between the COVID-19 vaccine and the tragic death reported by NSW health officials," it said.
Australians under the age of 50 were last week warned off receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine, after a link was confirmed between the jab and rare blood clots.
The prime minister received recommendations from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation on April 8 that the Pfizer vaccine should now be adopted as the preferred vaccine for people aged under 50.
Two people have so far developed bloods clots likely linked to their AstraZeneca jab in Australia - a woman in Western Australia and a man in Victoria, both aged in the 40s.
Australian Associated Press
