True: A fully vaccinated New Jersey doctor died of COVID-19 on a trip to India.

By: Ranjini K
July 20 2021

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Dr. Rajendra Kapila died of COVID-19 in Delhi on April 28 after testing positive on April 8. He was inoculated with both doses of Pfizer in the U.S.Renowned Infectious Disease specialist Dr. Rajendra Kapila, professor at Rutgers University, New Jersey, succumbed to COVID-19 on April 28, 2021, in Delhi. Rutgers University honored his 50 years of service towards thousands of patients and instructing numerous medical students, fellows, and residents at the University Hospital, New Jersey Medical School, and the Martland Hospital and called him "a genuine giant in the field of infectious diseases." In late March 2021, the 81-year-old doctor traveled to India for two weeks to care for his family. He was taken to Shanti Mukund Hospital in New Delhi after contracting the virus on April 8, even after receiving two doses of the COVID-19 vaccination in the United States. Also, he was suffering from diabetes and heart issues. Robert A. Schwartz, a U.S. Presidential Advisory Council member on HIV/AIDS, and the Weill Cornell Infectious Diseases Division tweeted condolences to Dr. Kapila's family. ABC News reports, Rutgers University said, "A genuine giant in the field of infectious diseases, Dr. Kapila was recognized worldwide and sought out for his legendary knowledge and extraordinary clinical acumen in diagnosing and treating the most complex infectious diseases." People who have received two doses of vaccines have a substantially low risk of catching COVID-19 and even of developing severe COVID-19. Although it is possible to die from the virus even if fully vaccinated, ABC says that this is extremely rare. Hindustan Times reports Dr. Rajendra and his wife, Dr. Deepti Saxena-Kapila, visited India and stayed in Ghaziabad. She told Hindustan Times that "It is ironic that we came to India for two weeks and he contracted it here." She added that he had got both doses of the Pfizer vaccine in the United States. The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to a lot of potentially dangerous misinformation. For reliable advice on COVID-19, including symptoms, prevention, and available treatment, please refer to the World Health Organization or your national healthcare authority.