Status: 06.10.2021 6:46 p.m.
In Sweden and Denmark, younger people will no longer be vaccinated with the Moderna corona vaccine for the time being. The two countries are responding to a possibly increased risk of heart muscle inflammation.
Moderna’s corona vaccine is no longer being given to younger people in Sweden and Denmark. In Sweden the rule applies to under 30-year-olds and in Denmark to under 18-year-olds.
As a precaution, the Swedish health authority decided to suspend the use of the US company’s preparation for the 1991 and younger years until December 1.
Apparently increased side effects
The reasons given for the decision are signs of an increased risk of side effects. Accordingly, data indicated an increase in cardiac muscle and pericardial inflammation in adolescents and young adults after vaccination.
“The link is particularly clear when it comes to Moderna’s Spikevax vaccine, especially after the second dose,” said the Swedish health authority. But the risk is very low.
The affected age group should instead receive the vaccine from BioNTech / Pfizer, the agency recommended. The vaccination against Covid-19 is offered to all people in Sweden who are older than twelve years. So far, 84 percent of all citizens over 16 years of age in the EU country have received at least one vaccination dose, and almost 78 percent have already received a second one.
Denmark also restricts vaccinations
Shortly afterwards Denmark also restricted the use of the Moderna vaccine. As the local health administration announced, from now on children and adolescents under the age of 18 will only be vaccinated with BioNTech / Pfizer. Here, too, there was talk of a precautionary measure. The authority referred to a previously unpublished Nordic study that is now to go to the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
They also come to the conclusion that the Moderna preparation is also a particularly effective vaccine that occupies an important place in the country’s vaccination campaign. In Denmark, 76 percent of all citizens have received a first dose of vaccine so far, and almost 75 percent have already received their second.
Authorities: benefits outweigh risk
The EMA approved the use of the BioNTech vaccine in those over the age of twelve in May and that of Moderna in July. The Canadian health agency said late last week that data suggested that vaccinations with Moderna led to more cases of heart infections than those with BioNTech / Pfizer. The inflammation is more common in adolescents and adults under 30 years of age and more common in men. However, the majority of those affected only fell ill relatively easily and recovered quickly. The regulatory authorities had stated that the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks.