Norway has published a story of caution for elderly and terminally ill people who are receiving the coronavirus vaccine after 23 people died in the countries shortly after receiving an injection of the vaccine.
“For those with more severe frailty, even the relatively mild side effects of the vaccine can have serious consequences,” warned the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. “For those who have a very short remaining life, the benefit of the vaccine may be marginal or irrelevant.”
Read also | Norway investigates the deaths of two people who received the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine
Of the 23 deaths, 13 were autopsied in which it was revealed that common side effects may have contributed to reactions in vulnerable people and the elderly, reported the Norwegian Medicines Agency.
The warning, Norwegian officials said, does not mean that the elderly or the younger generation should avoid vaccination. It is just to express concern and issue a warning sound so that sick and vulnerable people are cautious when being vaccinated against the deadly virus.
Read also: Pfizer CEO ‘not sure’ if coronavirus vaccine will prevent transmission
In the initial investigations, it was revealed that almost three-quarters of those affected were over 80, the regulator said in his report.
Vaccine manufacturers, FPfizer-BioNtech, are working with the Norwegian regulator to investigate the deaths and claimed that “the number of incidents so far is not alarming and is in line with expectations”.
So far, Norway has administered the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine to almost 33,000 people, with priority for the vulnerable, the elderly and health professionals. So far, most people have received the vaccine from Pfizer and some others with a similar dose of Moderna.