The Norwegian authorities have changed their advice on who gets the COVID-19 vaccine after the death of some elderly people, saying that it is the doctor who decides whether someone gets the vaccine or not.
The Norwegian medicines agency reported that 29 people suffered from side effects, 13 of which were fatal. All deaths occurred in nursing homes and were all over 80 years old.
Fever and nausea could have “killed some frail patients,” Sigurd Hortemo said in the agency’s first report on side effects.
According to official figures, in the Scandinavian country, more than 30,000 people have received the first dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine since the end of December.
“We are not shocked by this. It is quite clear that these vaccines pose very little risk, with a small exception in the case of the weakest patients, ”the agency’s medical director, Steinar Madsen, told NRK broadcaster.
“Doctors must carefully consider who should be vaccinated. The very weak who are at the end of their lives can receive the vaccine after an individual evaluation, ”he added.
Days ago, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health said that “any side effects of the vaccine will be offset by a reduced risk of becoming seriously ill from COVID-19 in the case of frail elderly.”
He added that “for highly vulnerable and terminally ill patients, a careful evaluation of the benefits versus the harms of vaccination is recommended.”
The Norwegian Medicines Agency said in its report that 21 and 8 men suffered from side effects. Nine experienced serious non-fatal side effects and seven other less serious side effects. All nine suffered from allergic reactions, severe malaise, and high fever, while the less serious effects were injection site pain.
Norway has reported a total of 57,279 cases and 511 deaths.