Scandinavian countries stop Moderna vaccine in young men because of very rare side effect.  Does the Netherlands follow?

 Following Sweden and Denmark, Finland also decided on Thursday not to use the Moderna vaccine for men under 30 years of age.  In this group, this vaccine is more likely to cause an inflamed heart muscle or pericardium as a (usually harmless) side effect than the comparable Pfizer shot.
 Hessel von Piekartz7 October 2021, 17:08
 Swedes are queuing for a nightclub in Stockholm that is being used as a vaccination room at the beginning of this year.  Image EPA
 Swedes are queuing for a nightclub in Stockholm that is being used as a vaccination room at the beginning of this year.Image EPA

 The countries took the decision in response to a Norwegian advisory report that prescribes that the comparable mRNA vaccine from Pfizer/Biontech should be preferred over Moderna, if available.  An upcoming study by the Norwegians on data from the Scandinavian countries would show that the risk in young men of the conscious side effects is higher after Moderna than after a shot with Pfizer.  According to previously published Canadian research that the Norwegians cite, the side effect is about seven times more common after a second Moderna shot.

 Men in their twenties who have already received their first Moderna vaccination can receive Pfizer in the second round in Sweden and Finland.  In Denmark, young people under the age of 18 no longer receive Moderna, they are also advised to take Pfizer.  The Norwegian study would also show that, despite the differences, the side effects are still "very rare" with both vaccines.
 The Netherlands is waiting

 The Netherlands is not yet following the Scandinavian countries.  The Ministry of Health currently foresees "no change to the vaccination strategy", a spokesperson said.  In the meantime, the ministry is monitoring whether the European Medicines Agency (EMA) comes up with new insights.  That is currently looking at the new Scandinavian findings on the Moderna vaccine and its side effects.

 It has been known for some time that inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis) or the pericardium (pericarditis) are rare side effects of mRNA vaccines.  In boys aged 12 to 18 they occur about one in 15 thousand times, in girls less than one in 100 thousand.  The adverse reaction occurred more frequently after the second injection.

 In the Netherlands there are so far "around ten" reports of side effects, says Agnes Kant of side effects center Lareb.  Nearly two million shots with Moderna have been taken here, out of a total of more than 23.7 million.  It is not certain that all reported cases have been caused by the vaccine, "but given it is a known side effect, it is likely," said Kant.
 Risk of scarring

 In most people, the inflammations have a mild course and are easily treatable.  “A lot of people don"t even notice it, they are at most a bit short of breath.  And 90 to 95 percent recover completely," says Jan Piek, professor emeritus of cardiology.  But it is understandable that the Scandinavian countries are now stepping on the brakes just to be sure, he thinks.  “If such inflammation continues or spreads, there is a small risk of scarring.  As a result, cardiac arrhythmias can occur later on.”

 The fact that the side effects mainly occur among younger people is probably because they have a more severe reaction to the vaccine, says Piek.  “When you vaccinate someone, you trigger an inflammatory response of the virus in a weakened form.  This inflammation also occurs in covid, so there is a small risk that you will also see it after a shot."

 In the Netherlands, Moderna can in principle be given to anyone over the age of 12, in line with the advice that the EMA previously issued.  The side effects are included in the package leaflet of the vaccine.  In the meantime, there is hardly any pricking with Moderna in the Dutch pricking streets, says a spokesperson for the RIVM.  ‘That only happens at a few locations.’ The vast majority of the injections that are now taken are from Pfizer, so the risk of the side effect is smaller.

 A spokesperson for the Dutch Medicines Evaluation Board (MEB) emphasizes that "all approved vaccines are effective in reducing corona infection, hospitalization and death".