On Saturday, the National Institute of Public Health (NIPH) and the Norwegian Medicines Agency urgently convened a press conference on possible side effects of the AstraZeneca vaccine. People who have received the vaccine, and who get bruises and skin haemorrhages, were asked to contact a doctor immediately.
– It can be a serious sign of a reduced number of platelets, said Sigurd Hortemo in the Norwegian Medicines Agency on Saturday.
Several emergency rooms in the country have in recent hours reported a large influx of worried vaccinated people following the call, including the emergency room in Bergen and Drammen.
– Has been worried
Transfer Bergens Tidende says the emergency room manager at the emergency room, Annette Corydon, that they have had between 20 and 30 patients who have received the AstraZeneca vaccine during the day.
– Most people who come in have such skin haemorrhages that have been described. Some have only had moles, but they have been worried and thought it was bleeding, she told the newspaper on Saturday night.
The emergency room has taken blood samples from all patients that match FHI’s description.
Susanne Kjær, business manager for the emergency room in Drammen, also informs Drammens Tidende that they experience a large increase in telephone inquiries about the vaccine.
– We are experiencing an increase in demand. It is natural when the authorities go out and encourage people to see a doctor if they experience symptoms. This is something we take seriously, she tells the newspaper.
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As expected
Steinar Madsen, medical director at the Norwegian Medicines Agency, tells Dagbladet that he understands that people are worried.
– We understand that those who have been vaccinated are concerned, but it is important to point out that there are four people who have had serious side effects from 124,000 vaccinated. Fortunately, it is very rare, and we hope that we do not get more of these types of serious incidents, he says.
Madsen states that many have called FHI’s information line about coronavirus after the press conference on Saturday, but that the increased turnout was expected.
– After we went out with information earlier today, there has been a lot going on on the corona phone to FHI. We have also received calls from doctors who have questions. This is something we expected, he says and adds:
– When we discuss reports about possible side effects and it comes up in the media, it often leads to us getting more side effect reports.
Will warn
Madsen says that the encouragement goes out to those who still feel bad and possibly see small skin bleeds more than three days after vaccination. These are asked to contact the emergency room or GP to get an examination.
– That is what has happened with the four cases. They have had low platelets, and this can lead to an increased risk of bleeding. If there are low platelets in the blood, there is an increased risk of severe bleeding. We sincerely hope that there will be no more such cases, but we want to warn so that such symptoms are assessed by health professionals.
– Normally, the side effects of these three vaccines go away within three days. There can be quite severe side effects in the beginning, but it usually goes away after three days. If it does not go away after three days, it may be appropriate to contact the health service.
It was Saturday known that three health workers are hospitalized in Health South-East with severe blood clots. Everyone has received the AstraZenaca vaccine. Several younger people who have received the vaccine have also had major or minor skin haemorrhages.
It is currently unknown whether there is a connection between vaccination and the course of the disease.
– Were you prepared for such side effects?
– Not this type of side effect, because this is an unusual disease picture where there are three elements: low blood platelets, blood clots and bleeding. It is an unusual disease.
Madsen states that all reports of side effects are followed up.
– We retrieve all the information that is available, and look at whether there is a connection between the vaccination and messages. The purpose of the monitoring is that if we receive messages, we can use it to give advice to health professionals, so that the vaccine is even safer, he says and adds:
– A good example is that when the Pfizer vaccine was used, it was not known that you could get an allergy shock. It only became known after it was put into use. Drug monitoring with adverse reaction reports is there to make the use of vaccines and all drugs safer.
