A father-of-four has died from Covid-19 after receiving his first dose of Pfizer’s vaccine just two days before he was diagnosed with the virus.
Chris Moore, from Shotley Bridge, near Consett in County Durham, had been shielding during the pandemic, but returned to his role as an NHS administrator at the end of last year.
The 48-year-old was then given the first dose of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine on January 2 at the University Hospital of North Durham.
Two days later he began to show symptoms, and tested positive for the virus.
He was rushed to hospital suffering with breathing difficulties, but died on February 10, four weeks after he was admitted.
His family are not sure where or how he contracted the virus and don’t believe it’s directly linked to the vaccine.
No Covid vaccine released so far is 100 per cent effective in preventing Covid-19, even after both doses have been given.
Studies have shown Pfizer’s vaccine efficacy level after one dose stands at around 52%, rising to around 95% after a second injection.
However, scientists estimate it takes two to three weeks for the first dose to become effective in fighting off the virus.
NHS administrator Chris Moore, 48, died with Covid-19. He tested positive for the virus just two days after getting his first dose of the Pfizer vaccine
The NHS worker leaves behind his wife Helen, 47, and their four children Rebecca, 19, Daniel, 17, James, 16, and Thomas, 12.
Family friend David Coxon revealed Mr Moore died just weeks before his 18th birthday – date they both share.
Mr Coxon said: ‘Daniel is 18 on February 26 so it was quite sad that as an 18-year-old he couldn’t organise a big birthday party but now he will have to celebrate it knowing his dad isn’t there celebrating with him.
‘It’s so sad, they would normally be celebrating Chris’ 49th birthday on the same day.
‘He was a family person and we see photos of them as a family and they are always smiling.
‘He was a loving husband and Helen often described him as her soulmate.
‘Obviously, I think he was a very caring and very loving person. He always seemed to be a smiling and happy and fun person.’
Mr Moore and his wife had been shielding during the pandemic, but he returned to work around Christmas.
Mr Coxon, 50, said: ‘He went and got vaccinated having not really left the house but two days after he got the vaccine he had symptoms of coronavirus and by January 10 was taken to hospital with severe breathing difficulties.
‘He seemed to make a little bit of a recovery so they took him out of intensive care and put him on the regular ward for a few days and then he relapsed quite quickly.
‘He is back on oxygen and then being ventilated and then the hospital called Helen and said he was quite seriously poorly and they should be going in to see him.
‘Again, he made a little bit of a recovery after seeing Helen but she was told he needed kidney dialysis as well but he didn’t really get any better after that.
‘They were called again and they were told he was seriously poorly and Helen had to go and be with him. He passed away then.
‘Even though Chris hadn’t gone out the only days Chris really could have caught covid were going to work or actually the trip to hospital to get the covid vaccination, so tragically it could be ultimately that going for a coronavirus vaccination that led to him catching coronavirus.
‘The sad truth is that they are never going to know if it came from ‘
The father-of-four’s family hopes his death will remind people that the virus still exists and is ‘very real’.
Mr Coxon added: ‘Helen mainly wanted to get the message across that while lockdown rules are being lessened it is still a thing that exists and it’s still a very real thing, not only does it affect the people who die of coronavirus but also the families and extended families.
‘It is something that will affect them for the rest of their lives. It is very real for the people affected by it.’
A JustGiving page has been set up to help the Moore family during this difficult time, after his NHS car was taken following his death.
Mr Coxon said: ‘You may have heard that during the pandemic the NHS are supporting the families of staff that have lost a loved one to Covid, but as an NHS administrator the family aren’t eligible to any help at all.
‘They say that you don’t move on from grief, you move forward with it, but with four children to support, that journey is considerably easier if you haven’t also lost the family car.’