'Healthy' South Florida doctor died 2 weeks after receiving COVID-19 vaccine

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — A 56-year-old doctor passed away this week two weeks after getting his first dose of a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

Dr. Gregory Michael, a Miami-Beach obstetrician, was in good health, according to WPDE. Health officials from Florida and the Centers from Disease Control and Prevention are investigating whether the vaccine played a role in his death, which may be the country's first death linked to the vaccine.

Dr. Michael received his first dose of Pfizer's vaccine on Dec. 18 at Mount Sinai Medical Center, the Sun-Sentinel reported. Three days later, small spots began to appear on his feet and hands. He went to the emergency room at Mount Sinai, where he has worked in private practice for 15 years.

Michael's blood count was "far below normal ranges" and he was admitted into the ICU, according to the Sun-Sentinel. Just days before the last resort surgery, he suffered a stroke and died.

Michael's wife said in a Facebook post that he spent the pandemic delivering hundreds of babies and was a COVID-19 vaccine advocate.