A young man who dropped dead in the shower while suffering from Covid was anxious about getting vaccinated because he feared it could potentially have long-term side effects.
Ady Al-Askar collapsed in his shower on Tuesday afternoon and was unable to be revived.
The 27-year-old had been isolating in his Liverpool unit in Sydney's southwest with his aged care nurse wife, Yasmin, who first contracted the virus and brought it home from work.
The couple were due to end their 14-day mandatory quarantine period on Wednesday and relatives are questioning whether Covid contributed to his death.
Heart conditions reportedly run in the Al-Askar family, and his cousin Khalid Thijeel told Daily Mail Australia it was this that cost his life, not the virus.
The 27-year-old had been isolating in his Liverpool unit in Sydney's southwest with his aged care nurse wife, Yasmin, who first contracted the virus and brought it home from work
Pictured: Mr Al-Askar on his wedding day, just six weeks ago
He revealed the factory worker had not yet been vaccinated, in spite of government directives for all Sydneysiders - particularly those living in hotspots - to get the jab.
Given his youth, Mr Al-Askar didn't consider getting the jab a priority.
He was also wary of potential long term effects the newly developed vaccine might have.
Pictured: Ady Al-Askar
Mr Thijeel stressed his cousin was not an 'anti vaxxer', but was hesitant after mixed messaging from the government which initially told Australians the AstraZeneca jab was not safe for people under the age of 60.
'He was young, and it's my understanding he wanted to see what long-term effects there were…he doesn't have children yet, but would it affect them',' he said.
'He was just waiting to see'.
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation's latest advice states that increased transmissibility of the Delta variant outweighs any minor risks associated with the AstraZeneca jab.
'In a large outbreak, the benefits of the COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca are greater than the risk of rare side effects for all age groups,' the advice states.
'ATAGI reiterates that all adults in greater Sydney should strongly consider the benefits of earlier protection with COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca rather than waiting for alternative vaccines.'
Six Australians have died as a result of developing blood clots after receiving their AstraZeneca jab, out of about 12.3million doses administered.
Meanwhile 17 people have died as a result of the current Covid outbreak in NSW.
Pfizer is largely considered the preferable option among certain demographics, but is not as easy to source as the AstraZeneca.
Mr Al-Askar's death makes him the youngest victim of the virus in New South Wales to date.
New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejikilian and chief health officer Kerry Chant said his tragic death served as a stark warning that the Delta variant was not age discriminate.
Government officials at a state and federal level are now urging all Sydneysiders to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
Young people were initially not considered a priority age group under the government rollout.
Mr Al-Askar's cousin Khalid Thijeel (pictured together) said the family are not certain he died of Covid-19, despite what authorities have told them
Pictured: Healthcare workers asking a person in southwest Sydney to check in on Wednesday
But Ms Berejiklian has since warned the Delta variant is spreading rampantly within young
