claim: [It] is nearly impossible to categorize post-vaccine deaths as vaccine-related
evidence: The median age of final study group (N = 138) was 55 years (IQR 43,70) and the median time from last vaccine to death was 17 days (IQR 11,22). Among them, 113 (81.9%) were male and 31 (22.5%) were Qatari nationals. Among the 138 deaths evaluated, 8 deaths were classified as having high probability of being related to vaccination (1.15 death/1,000,000 vaccine doses administered). Fifteen deaths were classified as having intermediate probability (2.16 death/1,000,000 vaccine doses administered). One hundred and twelve deaths were classified as low probability or not related to vaccination. [...] We developed an algorithm to determine the probability of a death being related to COVID-19 vaccine administration using a framework similar to the one proposed by the World Health Organization, which takes into account evidence of any other cause of death, temporal association with vaccination, and lack of any other possible explanation19,20 (Fig. 2). Four licensed physicians were trained on the algorithm criteria to independently assign the probability of a death being related to vaccine administration. Final categorization was based on at least three reviewers assigning the same level of probability. Where less than three reviewers assigned the same probability of association, one additional reviewer adjudicated the outcome.