Photo: Anna Shvets
Official data sources
In this article, several charts are being presented. To generate these charts, only data from official Norwegian data sources are used . The solution to generate the charts, including the database , is open source , and hence controllable by everyone.
Adverse events vs. side effects
Some say there is a difference between the terms “adverse events” and “side effects”:
• “An adverse event is an undesired occurrence that results from taking a medication correctly.”
• “A side effect is an undesired effect that occurs when the medication is administered regardless of the dose.”
• “Adverse events are different from side effects and are never desired. Adverse events require interventions whereas most side effects spontaneously resolve with time. The 2 words are incorrectly used interchangeably yet mean 2 separate things. Although this may seem like common sense to some, the incorrect use of these 2 words appears to be a common mistake within the healthcare field.”
src: pharmacytimes.com
While others say it’s the same, like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
• “Adverse reactions, also known as side effects, are considered to be caused by a vaccine”.
src: cdc.gov
In Norwegian we mainly use the term “bivirkning” (side effect), seldom the term “uønskede hendelser” (adverse events).
Since it’s unclear to me, and others, if there is a difference in between these two terms, I have simply used “adverse event” throughout this article.
Vaccination rate in Norway
Dose 1: 80.4%, Dose 2: 64.8%, Dose 3: 54.3% src:vg.no
src: c19vaxno
About 4.3 million compliant Norwegians , or 80.4% of the population, have been injected with the first dose. Around 4 million have received two doses, and around 2.9 million have received their third jab. Some Norwegians have received a forth dose as well.
Under-reporting is a fact
For adverse reactions, it is a known fact that far from all incidents are reported. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health (FHI) has stated 1: “The fewest of adverse reactions are reported in databases” (“De færreste bivirkninger blir registrert i registre”). And studies shows 2 that 1 to 10% of all adverse reactions are reported, and at most 30 to 50% of deadly adverse reactions.
“En hjørnestein innen legemiddelovervåkingen er rapportering av bivirkninger som oppdages av helsepersonell i klinisk praksis. Dette kalles spontanrapportering. I alle utviklede land finnes det systemer for dette. Et hovedproblem er underrapportering. I størrelsesorden 1 – 10 % av alle bivirkninger blir meldt. For dødelige bivirkninger meldes maksimalt 30 – 50 %” - Den Norske Legeforening