29 deaths in Norway after vaccination: what we know so far

The number of people over 75 with serious underlying health problems who died after taking vaccines against coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in Norway went to 29 on Saturday. The Scandinavian country, which has vaccinated more than 25,000 people since the vaccination program began on December 27 last year, the dead has been confirmed.

Previously, the age group in the danger zone was thought to be over 80, but the six new deaths on Saturday brought it further down to 75 and also raised questions about which groups should target the national vaccination program.

Here’s what we know so far:

– The Covid-19 vaccine made by Pfizer and BioNTech is the only vaccine available in Norway, and all deaths are seen to be related, according to the Norwegian Medicines Agency (NMA).

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– The NMA wrote to Bloomberg news agency and confirmed that although most people have experienced the expected side effects of the vaccine, 13 deaths have been assessed and a further 16 are being investigated because they were caused by it. “There have been 13 deaths that have been identified and we are aware of an additional 16 deaths currently under assessment,” the agency said, adding that all reported deaths were associated with “elderly people with serious basic disorders.”

– The side effects seen in most people are nausea and vomiting, fever, local injection site reactions and worsening of their underlying condition. According to the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH), the vaccine could have marginal or no benefit for those who have a very short remaining lifespan anyway. For those with the most severe vulnerability, even relatively mild side effects from the vaccine can have serious consequences, it added.

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– Pfizer has said it is working with BioNTech and NIPH to investigate the deaths and the agency has 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 not be vaccinated.