Twenty-three people died in Norway within days of receiving the first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, with 13 of these deaths, all from nursing home patients, apparently related to the side effects of shots, health officials said.
Common reactions to the vaccine, including fever and nausea, “may have contributed to a fatal outcome in some fragile patients,” Sigurd Hortemo, chief physician at the Norwegian Medicines Agency, said in a statement on Friday.
All 13 were geriatric patients and at least 80 years old. While officials do not express serious concerns, they are adjusting their orientation on who should receive the vaccine.
The news comes just over a week after officials reported the deaths of just two nursing home residents after receiving the Pfizer punch.
More than 30,000 people in Norway have received the first shot of the Pfizer or Moderna coronavirus vaccine in the Scandinavian country since late last month, according to official data.
“We are not alarmed,” Steinar Madsen, the agency’s medical director, told Norwegian broadcaster NRK. “It is clear that these vaccines have very little risk, with one small exception for the most vulnerable patients.”
“Now doctors need to carefully consider who should be vaccinated,” he added. “Those who are very fragile and at the end of life can be vaccinated after an individual assessment.”
The agency reported Thursday that a total of 29 people had suffered side effects, including the 13 people who died.
Twenty-one women and eight men experienced side effects, officials said.
In addition to those who died, nine had severe side effects (including allergic reactions, severe discomfort, and severe fever), while seven had less severe effects, including severe pain at the injection site.
In all, more than 57,000 cases and 500 coronavirus-related deaths have been reported in Norway, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Health officials noted that about 400 people die each week in the population of the residences.
A Pfizer representative said the pharmaceutical giant is “aware of the reported deaths” after the vaccine was administered in Norway and is working with the Norwegian Medicines Agency “to collect all relevant information”.
“Norwegian authorities have prioritized vaccination of residents in residences, most of whom are very elderly with underlying diseases and some are terminally ill,” a spokeswoman said in a statement. “[The Norwegian Medicine Agency confirms] the number of incidents so far is not alarming and is in line with expectations. “
“All reported deaths will be thoroughly evaluated by [the agency] to determine whether these incidents are related to the vaccine, “he added.” The Norwegian government will also consider adjusting its vaccination instructions to take more into account the health of patients. “