Six more deaths among the elderly in Norway, who received the first dose of Pfizer/BioNTech’s coronavirus shot, has taken the total death toll to 29, Bloomberg reported on Saturday. The six deaths have also lowered the age group of those affected, from 80.

Also read: 23 elderly people die in Norway after getting Pfizer-BioNTech shot

The Norwegian Medicines Agency (NMA) told Bloomberg that all the deaths were related to Pfizer/BioNTech’s coronavirus vaccine, as it’s the only vaccine that was available in the country, till Friday.

However, the country has granted conditional approval to the shot developed by Moderna.

“There are 13 deaths that have been assessed, and we are aware of another 16 deaths that are currently being assessed,” the NMA said.

All the deaths were related to “elderly people with serious basic disorders,” the medical agency said. 

“Most people have experienced the expected side effects of the vaccine, such as nausea and vomiting, fever, local reactions at the injection site, and worsening of their underlying condition,” it added.

Owing to its experience, Norway has suggested that COVID-19 vaccines may be too risky for the very old and terminally ill. It’s the most cautious statement yet from a European health authority.

The Norwegian Institute of Public Health has said, “for those with the most severe frailty, even relatively mild vaccine side effects can have serious consequences.”

“For those who have a very short remaining life span anyway, the benefit of the vaccine may be marginal or irrelevant,” it added.

Meanwhile, Pfizer told Bloomberg that “the number of incidents so far is not alarming, and in line with expectations.”

Also read: Pfizer’s COVID vaccine deliveries to Europe face delay

“We are aware that deaths have also been reported in other countries, but do not have full details of this yet,” the NMA said.

“There are also differences between countries in who is prioritised for vaccination, and this could also affect the reporting of side effects, including death,” it added.

Norway has prioritised the elderly, risk groups and healthcare professionals for the coronavirus vaccine.

The NMA said it had “communicated, prior to the vaccination, that when vaccinating the oldest and sickest, it is expected that deaths will occur in a time-related context with vaccination.”

“This does not mean that there is a causal link between vaccination and death,” it said, Bloomberg reported.

“We have also, in connection with the reported deaths, conveyed that it is possible that common and known side effects of the vaccines may have been a contributing factor to a serious course or fatal outcome,” the agency added.