Some Elderly Died After Receiving Vaccine
The Claim
The COVID-19 vaccine caused fatalities in Norway.
News posted on
Emerging story
Social media users report over twenty people have died in Norway after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar has discovered twenty-nine deaths were reported in mid-January among some 40,000 people given the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in Norway according to Bloomberg.com. Those who died were all 75 years or older and included terminally ill patients anticipated to have only weeks or months to live.
“It may be a coincidence, but we aren’t sure,” Steinar Madsen, medical director of the Norwegian Medicines Agency (NOMA), told The BMJ. “There is no certain connection between these deaths and the vaccine. There is a possibility that these common adverse reactions, that are not dangerous in fitter, younger patients and are not unusual with vaccines, may aggravate underlying disease in the elderly,” Madsen said. According to BusinessInsider.com, the Norwegian Medicines Agency reported that "all deaths" are linked to the Pfizer vaccine, which was the only one available in the country until Friday.
The Norwegian Institute of Public Health has emphasised its advice regarding frail or terminally ill patients. An evaluation should be carried for each individual patient as to whether the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks of eventual side effects.
