About 29 people over the age of 75 die in Norway after being vaccinated for Covid-19. Pfizer’s BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine is the only vaccine available in Norway.
Written by Prashasti Singh, New Delhi
UPDATE OP 17 JAN 2021 06:49 IST
The number of people over 75 with serious underlying health conditions who died after taking vaccinations for the coronavirus (Covid-19) disease in Norway rose to 29 on Saturday. The Scandinavian country, which has vaccinated more than 25,000 people since the vaccination began on December 27 last year, has confirmed the death.
Earlier, the age group in the danger zone was higher than 80, but the six new deaths dropped it to 75 on Saturday and also raised questions about which groups they want to target in the national vaccination program.
This is what we know so far:
The Covid-19 vaccine manufactured by Pfizer and BioNTech is the only one available in Norway and according to the Norwegian Medicines Agency (NMA) all deaths are linked to it.
Also read: Norway says Covid-19 vaccines could be too risky for the elderly, fatally ill
The NMA wrote to the news agency Bloomberg and confirmed that although most people had experienced the expected side effects of the vaccine, 13 deaths had been evaluated and another 16 were being looked at as a result. “There are 13 deaths assessed, and we are aware of another 16 deaths currently being assessed,” the agency said, adding that all of the deaths reported were related to ‘elderly people with severe basic disorders’.
The side effects that occur in most people are nausea and vomiting, fever, local reactions at the injection site and worsening of their underlying condition. According to the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH), the vaccine can in any case have marginal or no benefit for those who still have a short lifespan. For those with the worst fragility, even relatively mild side effects from vaccines can have serious consequences, he added.
Also read: Pfizer to cut vaccines while refurbishing Belgian factory
Pfizer said it was investigating the deaths with BioNTech and the NIPH, and the agency found that “the number of incidents so far is not alarming and in line with expectations.”
However, Norway has not said that younger, healthier people should be vaccinated.
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