Intended for healthcare professionals

Rapid response to:

News

Covid-19: Norway investigates 23 deaths in frail elderly patients after vaccination

BMJ 2021; 372 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n149 (Published 15 January 2021) Cite this as: BMJ 2021;372:n149

Read our latest coverage of the coronavirus outbreak

Rapid Response:

COVID-19, vaccine, safety, adverse effect and death

Dear Editor

The published information from Norway might attract attention from medical personnel worldwide [1]. The adverse effect of any vaccine is possible. Regarding new COVID-19 vaccines, the product from any manufacturers might cause an adverse effect. Regarding death after vaccination, it might be due to many factors. Further data collection from closed monitoring is necessary for conclusion. If there is an actual risk, the avoidance of vaccination might be recommended.

Nevertheless, the number of deaths is still less than the mortality rate due to COVID-19 in cases that there is no vaccination. At present, the data from most preliminary trials are usually based on healthy population. Therefore, using in the elderly or a patient with underlying disease might be a risk. At present, the first group to be vaccinated should be healthy medical personnel. When safety is approved for people with an impaired physical condition, the use in elderly people or those with underlying disease might be followed.

References
1. Covid-19: Norway investigates 23 deaths in frail elderly patients after vaccination. BMJ 2021; 372 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n149 (Published 15 January 2021)

Competing interests: No competing interests

18 January 2021
viroj wiwanitkit
medical professor
Dr DY Patil University, Pune, India