Norway denies link between coronavirus vaccination and death of around 30 people



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Norwegian authorities came out on Monday to clarify that there is no link established between the Pfizer / BioNTech coronavirus vaccine and the deaths of more than 30 people vaccinated in the country. Although it recommended to conduct a medical evaluation to elderly and frail patients before inoculation.

Since the start of the vaccination campaign at the end of December, the Scandinavian country has recorded 33 deaths of elderly people who received a first dose, according to the latest report from the authorities. The first information spoke of 23 to 29 deceased.

Among the 13 most studied cases to date, “they are very old, fragile and seriously ill people,” said the director of the Norwegian public health authority Camilla Stoltenberg at a press conference.

“Regarding the causes of death, there was no analysis,” he said. “But, the most important thing is to remember that 45 people die every day in nursing homes in Norway. Therefore, it has not been established that there is excess mortality or that it is linked to vaccines.” , said the head of Health.

The Norwegian authorities state that the majority of those vaccinated were residents of retirement homes.  Photo: REUTERS

The Norwegian authorities specify that the majority of those vaccinated were residents of retirement homes. Photo: REUTERS

Regardless, after the death report Norway has reiterated in recent days the recommendation of carry out a medical evaluation before vaccinating very fragile people or die, as is already the case in other countries.

“It is not impossible that some of the people to whom the vaccine is offered are so fragile … that it is not worth vaccinating them, as they can potentially see their situation deteriorate due to normal side effects. “, added Stoltenberg. this Monday.

The Norwegian pharmaceutical authority expressed concern late last week, saying common side effects of messenger RNA vaccines (which seek to elicit an immune response), such as fever and nausea, could have “contributed to a fatal outcome in some fragile patients’ in the country.

Several countries have reported deaths after vaccination, but health authorities believe that a link to the vaccine cannot be established.

Pfizer investigation

Laboratories Pfizer and BioNTech, which manufacture the vaccine used in Norway, throughout the European Union, the United States and several countries in Latin America, told AFP on Monday “that they are working with the agency. Norwegian medicine collect all the relevant information ”, recalling that in this Nordic country, the campaign began with the vaccination of elderly people living in nursing homes.

“Most of them are very old, with illnesses that in some cases are terminal in nature,” Pfizer said.

According to the latest report available, more than 48,000 people have been vaccinated in Norway, out of a total population of 5.4 million.

Germany does not change its plans

Following the spread of deaths in Norway after vaccination, the German government said on Monday that it was not considering changing its vaccination plan.

German Health Minister Jens Spahn assured at a press conference that in Germany there were also cases of elderly people with previous illnesses who died after receiving the first dose of the BioNTech / Pfizer vaccine. , although for the moment no causality has been proven between the two facts.

The Pfizer laboratory is analyzing the possible cause of death of several people after receiving the serum against the coronavirus.  Photo: REUTERS

The Pfizer laboratory is analyzing the possible cause of death of several people after receiving the serum against the coronavirus. Photo: REUTERS

The Paul Ehrlich Institute, the reference center for vaccination in Germany, is in contact with Norwegian authorities and is documenting cases in Germany, where around 1.05 million people have already been vaccinated, said the Minister of Health .

The first report from the Paul Ehrlich Institute on this vaccine indicates that between December 27 and January 10, seven people were inoculated with the preparation BioNTech / Pfizer (out of a total of 613,347 vaccinated), between 2.5 hours and 4 days after the injection.

They were four women and three men aged 79 to 93 with a serious history of hypertension and diabetes, dementia, encephalopathy, carcinoma or kidney failure.

The German Standing Committee on Immunization had already warned that the BioNTech / Pfizer vaccine could have side effects in “very rare” cases, ie one in 10,000 vaccinated.

Source: AFP, EFE and ANSA

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