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Norway has recorded a total of 29 deaths among people over the age of 75 who have received the first vaccine against Covid-19, raising questions about which groups should be targeted for national inoculation programs.
The latest figure adds six to the number of known fatalities in Norway and also reduces the age group believed to be affected to 80.
Until Friday, Pfizer / BioNTech was the only vaccine available in Norway and therefore “all deaths are related to this vaccine,” the Norwegian Medicines Agency said in a written response to Bloomberg on Saturday.
“There are 13 deaths that have been assessed and we are aware of another 16 deaths that are currently being assessed,” the agency said. All reported deaths were related to “elderly people with severe underlying disorders,” he said. “Most people have experienced the expected side effects of the vaccine, such as nausea and vomiting, fever, local reactions at the injection site and the worsening of their underlying condition.”
Secondary effects
Norway’s experience has led the country to suggest that vaccines against Covid-19 may be too risky for very old people with terminal illnesses, the most prudent statement from a European health authority as countries assess the real-world side effects of the first vaccines to be won. approval.
The Norwegian Institute of Public Health judges that “for those with the most severe fragility, even the relatively mild side effects of the vaccine can have serious consequences. However, for those with a very short shelf life, the benefit of the vaccine may be marginal or irrelevant. “
Pfizer and BioNTech are working with the Norwegian regulator to investigate the deaths in Norway, Pfizer said in an email statement. The agency found that “the number of incidents so far is not alarming and is in line with expectations,” Pfizer said.
“We are aware that deaths have also been reported in other countries, but we do not yet have all the details,” the Norwegian drug agency said. “There are also differences between countries in which vaccination is prioritized, and this can also affect the notification of side effects, including death.”
“The Norwegian Medicines Agency has stated, before vaccination, that when the oldest and sickest are vaccinated, deaths are expected to occur in a time-related context with vaccination. This does not mean that there is a causal link between vaccination and death.Also, in relation to reported deaths, we have transmitted that it is possible that the common and known side effects of vaccines may have been a factor contributing to a serious course or fatal outcome. “, said the agency.
Norway’s recommendation does not mean that younger, healthier people should avoid the vaccine. But it is an early indication of what to look for when countries start issuing safety control reports on vaccines. Emer Cooke, the new head of the European Medicines Agency, has said that monitoring the safety of Covid vaccines, especially those that depend on new technologies such as messenger RNA, would be one of the biggest challenges once they are implemented. widely the features.