The adverse reaction report summarises all reports of suspected adverse reactions that we have assessed following the vaccination of more than three million people. Events following vaccination are reported on the basis of suspicions, which means that there is not necessarily any causal relationship. The challenge is to distinguish symptoms and medical conditions which occur randomly from those which could be linked to vaccination. All reports are included in the report, regardless of whether or not an event is believed to be linked to vaccination.
Reports of serious events are given priority and assessed first. The figures therefore do not provide a complete picture of the distribution between serious and non-serious events.
Click here to go to an overview of reports of suspected adverse reactions (the adverse reactions report)
Doctors are required to report where fully-vaccinated people become seriously ill with COVID-19
The Norwegian Institute of Public Health and the Norwegian Medicines Agency are closely monitoring cases of COVID-19 in vaccinated people. The coronavirus vaccines provide a high degree of protection against infection with COVID-19. If vaccinated persons are infected with the coronavirus, most will have only mild symptoms or none at all, and these will be less prolonged than in unvaccinated people. Serious illness in full-vaccinated people is rare, but it does occur.
There is great support for COVID vaccination in Norway. The weekly report from the NIPH shows that more than 83% of people over 18 have received their first dose, and that fewer people are now becoming seriously ill and dying from COVID. The mRNA vaccines provide partial protection after the first dose. Full protection is achieved 1–2 weeks after the final dose of the vaccine. The degree of protection may vary between the different vaccines, and different people may experience a different effect from the same vaccine, depending on their age and health. The vaccines do not provide 100% protection against infection or illness with COVID. As the level of infection in society increases, fully-vaccinated people may also become infected, and some may also develop COVID.
The vaccines provide good protection against serious illness with COVID. As no vaccines provide 100% protection, some vaccinated people will also become ill as most of the adult population have been vaccinated. In cases where fully-vaccinated people become seriously ill with COVID-19, the doctor concerned should report this as an adverse reaction via melde.no, says Sigurd Hortemo, a senior consultant at the Norwegian Medicines Agency.
Please remember to include the following information when reporting adverse reactions:
- name of the vaccine and date of vaccination
- detailed description of the sequence of events
- when the adverse reaction first started
- whether the reaction is persistent or has passed
- other current medical conditions and medication
- if/when a COVID-19 test has been taken, and the result
- whether the reaction occurred after the first or second dose
- whether a different type of vaccine was given as the second dose
- results of any blood tests
- whether a doctor has been contacted (for those submitting a “patient report” via helsenorge.no)
It is particularly important to report reactions where any of the following are suspected:
- new adverse reactions not referred to in the patient information leaflet
- unexpected adverse reactions
- serious adverse reactions
- vaccine failure (severe COVID-19 following full vaccination)
