– Of course we will send the vaccines abroad if we can not use them ourselves, says SV’s health politician Nicholas Wilkinson.
The latest census from the National Institute of Public Health shows that Norway now has several hundred thousand doses of the controversial AstraZeneca vaccine in stock. The use of this has been put on hold, and it is highly uncertain whether it will ever start up again in Norway.
The status of the AstraZeneca vaccine in Norway is now:
- 180,600 doses in stock
- 52,800 of them have a shelf life of 30 June
- The remaining ones expire on July 30
At the same time, new doses of the controversial vaccine are flowing into the country. Even though the health authorities have put the vaccination on pause, AstraZeneca delivers vaccines to Norway almost weekly, the National Institute of Public Health informs Dagbladet.
On Tuesday, another 36,000 doses are expected to Norway. Then we are up to 216,600 doses that are useless for the time being.
Vaccine researcher Gunnveig Grødeland at the University of Oslo believes it will be difficult to use the vaccine in this country.
– It will be challenging to ask everyone to take this vaccine after all the problems, says vaccine expert Gunnveig Grødeland.
At a press conference on Thursday, at 4 pm, the National Institute of Public Health will present a new assessment of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Nicholas Wilkinson (SV) will send unused AstraZeneca doses from Norway abroad. Photo: Fredrik Hagen / NTB
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Last dose set in Norway?
– Whether the vaccine doses can be used in Norway depends on how the risk is assessed in different groups of society, says Grødeland.
The use of the AstraZeneca vaccine is still suspended by the health authorities, after a serious disease picture was discovered in people who have received the vaccine. The unusual symptoms included a blood clot along with a low platelet count and subsequent bleeding.
A report from a Norwegian professional group also reveals disturbing findings.
As the probability that the last Norwegian has received the controversial vaccine increases, the question of what to do with the vaccine doses comes to the fore.
– Worst case scenario is that the doses expire before they are used. That must be avoided by all means, says Grødeland.
SV’s Nicholas Wilkinson is crystal clear on what must happen.
Completely silent about the drug war
Will pay
– Here it is the health authorities who decide. But if we are not allowed to use them ourselves, we must send them to countries that want these vaccines. We can not throw away vaccines that so many hope they can get.
He also does not think Norway should charge for the highly coveted drops.
– We take the bill, Wilkinson states.
He will use the international vaccine collaboration Covax to distribute the excess vaccine doses.
Listhaug: – Takes absolute responsibility
High: should not hesitate on vaccines
Minister of Health Bent Høie is not dismissive of the idea from the SV politician.
– If we come to a final conclusion about not using them, and others want them, we will not sit on these vaccines.
– It is a question we will return to when we have made a final decision whether we should use it or not, says Høie.
The first doses in stock expire as early as June. Wilkinson in SV emphasizes that we do not have all the world of time:
– We have to send the vaccines fast. They desperately need them in many countries, and we must vaccinate the whole world before everyone is safe.
Vaccine expert Grødeland also thinks it is starting to get urgent.
– We have some time left, but not many weeks to make the decision on what to do with the vaccines, she says.
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