The Norwegian authorities have adapted their advice on who receives the COVID-19 vaccine after the death of an elderly person, saying that it is the doctor who decides whether or not a person receives the vaccine.
The Norwegian Medicines Agency reported that 29 people suffered side effects, of which 13 were fatal. All the deaths took place in old people’s homes and all were over 80 years old.
Fever and nausea could have “killed some weak patients,” Sigurd Hortemo said in the agency’s first side effects report.
More than 30,000 people received the first dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine in the Scandinavian country at the end of December, according to official figures.
“It simply came to our notice then. It is quite clear that these vaccines present a very low risk, with a small exception in the case of the weakest patients, “Steinar Madsen, the agency’s medical director, told NRK.
“Doctors need to carefully consider who is going to be vaccinated. The very weak and those at the end of life can receive the vaccine after an individual evaluation, “he added.
A few days ago, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health said that “any side effects of the vaccine will be offset by a reduced risk of serious COVID-19 disease in the elderly.”
He added that “for very fragile and terminally ill patients, a careful assessment of the benefits of vaccination disadvantages is recommended.”
The Norwegian Medicines Agency said in its report that 21 to eight men had side effects. Nine had severe non-fatal side effects and seven other less serious effects. All nine suffered from allergic reactions, malaise and high fever, while the less serious effects were pain at the injection site.
Norway reported a total of 57,279 cases and 511 deaths.