World

COVID-19: Norway issues warning over patients above 80 years taking vaccine

Friday, January 15, 2021 at 2:17 PM by Oluwatobi Bolashodun

- Norway has issued a warning on the risks of very old people receiving the COVID-19 vaccinations

- The country's health authority explained that those terminally ill and above the age of 80 are at a higher risk of experiencing side effects

- No fewer than 23 people have died in the European country after receiving their first dose of the vaccine

PAY ATTENTION: Join Legit.ng Telegram channel! Never miss important updates!

A report by Bloomberg indicates that the Norwegian Medicines Agency has raised an alarm over the COVID-19 vaccinations saying it may be too risky for those above the age of 80 and terminally sick patients.

The European country revealed the risks of taking the jab after 23 people died within a short time of receiving their first shot.

The international media outfit noted that 13 out of 23 deaths had been autopsied with the results suggesting that common side effects may have contributed to severe reactions in frail, elderly people.

Read also

COVID-19: FG declares position on imposing another nationwide lockdown

COVID-19: European country issues warning over patients above 80 years taking vaccine — Norway says there are risks for very old and terminally sick patients to take COVID-19 vaccine. Photo credit: JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER/AFP
Source: Getty Images

Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that the government of the United Kingdom authorised the Pfizer COVID vaccine for the treatment of the coronavirus infection, obviously the first of its kind from the west.

The approval was given on Tuesday, December 1, 2020, after Pfizer-BioNTech jab, an independent medicines agency, certified the vaccine for general use.

In a statement released on Wednesday morning, December 2, the UK department of health and social care said the government accepted the recommendation for the rolling out of the vaccine next week.

PAY ATTENTION: Get the Latest Nigerian News Anywhere 24/7. Spend less on the Internet!

In a related development, Margaret Keenan, a 90-year-old woman, became the first person to be given a COVID-19 jab as part of the mass vaccination programme being rolled out across the UK.

Keenan said the vaccine was the best early birthday present for her. She was given the injection at 06:31 GMT - the first of 800,000 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine that would be given in the coming weeks.