TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Finland and Sweden limit the use of the Covid-19 vaccine Modern for adolescents because of concerns about side effects in the form of rare cardiovascular cases. Local health authorities announced they had suspended the use of the vaccine on Thursday last week.
“All males aged 30 years or younger will be offered the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine,” the Finnish Health Authority said Monday, October 11, 2021.
THL’s decision follows an announcement from colleagues in Sweden who announced last Wednesday that they would limit the use of the Moderna vaccine to the same demographic. In Sweden, the use of the vaccine will be discontinued in people born in 1991 or later.
The decision by both countries to limit use of the Moderna vaccine centered on concerns that it could be linked to cases myocarditis, inflammation of the heart muscle. Both health authorities cite an unpublished study that has been sent to the Drug Administration Europe for assessment.
In most cases, people with myocarditis heal without complications, but in rare and more severe cases, damage to the heart can occur. According to THL, myocarditis most likely to develop in younger men after receiving a second dose of Moderna vaccine.
“THL’s instructions are that the Moderna vaccine should not be given to men and boys under the age of 30 for now, but the Pfizer vaccine should be used instead,” said Mika Salminen, Director of Health Safety at THL.
Finland offers Covid-19 vaccinations to everyone over the age of 12. Of the population eligible for vaccination in Finland, 84 percent had received the first dose and 72 percent had received two doses.
Meanwhile, the Swedish health agency, reported data showing that instances of myocarditis and pericarditis—inflammation of the outer layer of the heart—are higher among immunized young people.
An unnamed Moderna spokesman, explained that mild side effects usually tend to resolve within a short period of time after standard treatment and rest. Moderate risk myocarditis he said it increased substantially for those who contracted Covid-19, “and vaccination is the best way to protect it.”
REUTERS | CNBC
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