29 dead in Norway after being vaccinated: what we know so far

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

Previously, the age group considered to be in the danger zone was over 80, but Saturday’s six new deaths have lowered it further to 75 and also raised questions about which groups to target in the national immunization program .

Here’s what we know so far:

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

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– The NMA wrote to the Bloomberg News Agency and confirmed that while most people have experienced expected side effects from the vaccine, 13 deaths have been assessed and 16 more are being investigated to have been caused. “There are 13 deaths that have been assessed, and we are aware of another 16 deaths that are currently being assessed,” the agency said, adding that all reported deaths were of “elderly people with disorders. basic serious ”.

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

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– Pfizer said it was investigating the deaths with BioNTech and NIPH and the agency found that “the number of incidents so far is not alarming and as expected.”

– Norway, however, did not say that younger and healthier people should avoid being vaccinated.