Finland joins Sweden, other Nordic countries against Moderna’s shot
Finland has joined other Nordic countries to stop or discourage the use of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine in certain age groups. This comes after an increased risk of heart inflammation, a rare side effect associated with the shot was noted. On Thursday, October 7, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare stated that the shot will not be given to men under 30 years of age. Instead, they will receive the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine. According to the authority, young men and boys have a slightly increased risk of developing myocarditis, according to a report from Associated Press (AP).
Finland’s move comes after three neighboring countries made similar choices on Wednesday 6 October. Sweden has banned the use of Moderna for those under 30 years. At the same time, Denmark has stated that the Swiss-made vaccine will not be delivered to anyone under the age of 18 and Norway advised people under the age of 30 to acquire the Pfizer vaccine instead, reported AP. The decision was made by these four countries on the basis of an unpublished study with the Swedish Public Health Agency. The study revealed that it signals “an increased risk of side effects such as inflammation of the heart muscle or pericardium.” But it also added that the risk of being affected is minimal.
EU -approved Modern vaccine for 18 years and older in July
It should be mentioned here that the first results of the Nordic study have been referred to the European Medicines Agency’s negative reaction committee for review, The AP reported. Earlier, Anders Tegnell, Sweden’s chief epidemiologist, emphasized that they will closely monitor the situation and react quickly to ensure that COVID-19 vaccines are always as safe as possible and at the same time offer excellent disease protection. The COVID-19 vaccine from Moderna was approved for children aged 12 to 17 by the European Medicines Agency in July, marking the first time the vaccine had been licensed for people under 18, reported AP.
The maternal vaccine was licensed by the EU’s 27 nations in January for use by anyone aged 18 and over. It was also licensed in countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States, but it has not yet been made available to children. At the same time, the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine is the only one approved for children under 18 in Europe and North America. Earlier this week, the EU’s drug regulator approved booster doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for anyone 18 years and older. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) stated that booster doses for the above age group should be considered at least 6 months after the second dose, reported AP.