- Ingrid Torjesen
- London, United Kingdom
Doctors in Norway have been instructed to conduct more thorough evaluations of many debilitated elderly patients receiving the Pfizer BioNTec vaccine against covid-19, following the deaths of 23 patients shortly after receiving the vaccine.
“It may be coincidental, but we do not know,” said Steinar Madsen, medical director of the Norwegian Medicines Agency (NOMA). The BMJ. “There is no definite link between these deaths and the vaccine.”
The agency has so far investigated 13 of the deaths and concluded that general adverse reactions of mRNA vaccines, such as fever, nausea and diarrhea, could contribute to fatal outcomes in some debilitated patients.
“There is a possibility that these common side effects, which are not dangerous in fitter, younger patients and are not uncommon with vaccines, could exacerbate the underlying disease in the elderly,” Madsen said. “We are not worried or worried about this because it is very rare and it occurs in very debilitated patients with a very serious illness,” he stressed. “We are now asking doctors to continue with the vaccination, but to do extra sick whose underlying condition could possibly worsen.” This evaluation includes discussing the risks and benefits of vaccination with the patient and their families to decide if vaccination is the best way.
More than 20,000 doses of the vaccine have been administered in Norway over the past few weeks, and about 400 deaths usually occur weekly among nursing home residents.
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Asked if there were any deaths in patients in the UK after vaccination, the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said details of all suspected reactions reported in connection with approved covid-19 vaccines, will be published, together with the assessment of the data on a regular basis in the future. Based on the available published reports of the clinical trials, the MHRA said that it does not currently predict any specific safety issues.
In a statement, Pfizer said: “Pfizer and BioNTech are aware of the deaths reported after BNT162b2 administration. We are working with NOMA to gather all relevant information.
‘Norwegian authorities have prioritized the immunization of residents in nursing homes, most of whom are very elderly with underlying medical conditions and some are terminally ill. NOMA confirms that the number of incidents so far is not alarming, and in line with expectations. All reported deaths will be thoroughly evaluated by NOMA to determine if these incidents are related to the vaccine. The Norwegian government will also consider adjusting their vaccination instructions to take more account of patients’ health.
“Our immediate thoughts are with the grieving families.”