Elderly People in Norway Die After Receiving Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine

Strategic Insights -

The Norwegian Medicines Agency initiated an expert review to investigate the deaths of at least 100 nursing home residents who received the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA-based vaccine. The review suggested a causal link between the vaccine and death in 10% of the cases, while 26 deaths were classified as possible, and 59 as unlikely. The challenge with nursing home populations is that frail patients are at great risk of serious illness and death if they become infected with the COVID-19 virus, but the vaccine may have contributed to a more serious course of their disease in some cases.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Norwegian Medicines Agency investigated the deaths of at least 100 nursing home residents who received the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA-based vaccine.
  • The review suggested a causal link between the vaccine and death in 10% of the cases (10 deaths).
  • 26 deaths were classified as possible, and 59 as unlikely.
  • Frail patients in nursing homes are at great risk of serious illness and death if they become infected with the COVID-19 virus.
  • The vaccine may have contributed to a more serious course of their disease in some cases.
  • 155 deaths have been reported in association with the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA-based vaccine, mostly involving elderly and frail individuals residing in nursing homes.
  • Norwegian health authorities issued updated guidance for vaccinating terminally ill or extremely frail patients.
  • The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has been administered to over 300 million people globally, with serious adverse events expected to occur at a similar rate in vaccinated individuals as in the overall population.

Statistics:

  • 10 deaths were classified as causal link between the vaccine and death (10% of 100 cases).
  • 26 deaths were classified as possible.
  • 59 deaths were classified as unlikely.
  • 155 deaths have been reported in association with the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA-based vaccine.
  • Over 300 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine have been administered globally.

Sources:

  • Norwegian Medicines Agency (no date)
  • BMJ (2021) [Health journalist Ingrid Torjesen]
  • TrialSite (no date)
  • Pfizer-BioNTech (no date)
  • Norwegian Institute of Public Health (no date)
  • Legal Monitor Worldwide (2021)
  • SyndiGate Media Inc. (2021)