Common side effects may have contributed to the death of the weakest – VG

– We know that these common reactions are quite strong in some; Most people experience fairly mild side effects, but some may have a high fever, malaise, or nausea. This has been thoroughly discussed between the Norwegian Medicines Agency and the NIPH, and the NIPH changed its recommendations based on the experience we have, that an assessment should be made of who should be vaccinated, says Steinar Madsen of the Norwegian Medicines Agency to VG.

All deaths that occur near the time of vaccination are continuously reported and should be evaluated. A total of 23 people have died in the near future after receiving the vaccine. 13 of these deaths have been evaluated so far. Among the remaining 29 adverse reaction reports that have been completed, there are nine serious and seven less serious adverse reactions.

– We do not see anything alarming with these figures. All deaths occur in elderly, frail people with underlying illnesses, Madsen says.

The Norwegian Medicines Agency previously warned that more people will die from the vaccine, but not necessarily from it: nursing home residents are first to take priority in the vaccine queue, and in Norwegian nursing homes where many are seriously ill, an average of about 350 to 400 people die per week.

What has also emerged in what has been reviewed so far is that common and generally mild side effects may have had a more serious effect on the sickest. This has also been learned from, says Madsen.

– This may have contributed to some of these deaths.

NIPH changed the recommendation this week

The RNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna provide a strong immune response, which means that the vaccines are effective, but also that many will experience side effects such as fever, nausea, or pain at the injection site.

– If a person who is very frail and has an underlying disease is vaccinated and has a strong reaction with fever, nausea, and decreased appetite, this can lead to his underlying disease having a more serious course. These side effects are completely harmless to most people and go away in no time, but they can be a huge burden on very fragile people, says Madsen.

FHI updated its vaccination guide on Monday with a clarification that even mild side effects can have serious consequences for the most fragile, and that the benefit of the vaccine for those with a short remaining life may be marginal. Therefore, the appropriateness of administering a vaccine to a nursing home resident who is very frail must be evaluated.

These two vaccines have reached Norway so far:

Examine all deaths

Madsen says the Norwegian Medicines Agency will continue to do a comprehensive assessment of all reported deaths.

– We ask reporting physicians to be careful to include information about the patient’s condition, how it developed, and what happened after vaccination.

Previously he explained that the Drug authorities of all countries follow similar cases and put it in a system.

– What is considered is whether the vaccine may be the cause of death, or whether the death has occurred as a coincidence in time. Evaluation of each report of side effects will determine that, he explained.