Health officials are looking into 23 deaths attributed to the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine’s first dose in Norway.
News 13 reports that the Norwegian Medicines Agency announced in a statement that almost two dozen recipients of the coronavirus vaccine died within days of receiving their first dose.
Of the total deaths, 13 were attributed to nursing home patients who were at least 80-years-old. According to health officials, the deaths were related to the side effects of vaccines.
Dr. Sigurd Hortemo, the chief physician at the Norwegian Medicines Agency, said in the statement that common side effects like fever and nausea “may have contributed to a fatal outcome in some frail patients.”
According to the statement, all deaths within the first few days of a person receiving a vaccination are assessed. Adverse reactions to the vaccine experienced within the first few days may contribute to a “more serious course and fatal outcome in patients with severe underlying disease” and cannot be ruled out.
As a result, the coronavirus vaccination guide has been updated with more information on vaccinating the elderly who are frail.
The Pfizer vaccine requires two doses separated by 21 days to be effective.
