Stories about the deaths of 30+ elderly people in Norway following COVID-19 vaccination are being widely circulated. The deaths were investigated, and Norway health officials have determined that the inoculations were not the cause of death. However, vaccine opponents believe this is another example of government cover up, and public and private sector collusion. As a result of the deaths, doctors in Norway have been instructed out of an abundance of caution to consider if someone who is frail and near the end of life is an appropriate candidate for a COVID-19 vaccine given that mild or moderate reactions such as fever or diarrhea may prove harmful to already frail individuals.
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Passive Response Read More +
Continuing to regularly promote vaccines and their safety and efficacy is itself debunking this misinformation. However, as more people get vaccinated, morbidity and mortality will naturally occur among people who have received a COVID-19 vaccine; this is because at a population level, illness and death are always occurring. There is to-date no evidence COVID-19 vaccines are linked to deaths. Suggested talking points would be to emphasize that adverse events after vaccination are investigated, there is no evidence COVID-19 vaccines are linked to deaths, and to educate on the normal, expected level of illness and death in the population. Familiarity with baseline levels of morbidity and mortality, along with the current incidence of COVID-19 deaths, can aid communicators in explaining coincidence vs. causation. Fact Checking Source(s): politifact.com
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