Sweden, Denmark halt Moderna jabs for young people over reports of possible, rare side effects

Sweden and Denmark have halted the rollout of the Moderna Covid vaccine for younger populations amid reports of potential, very rare side effects.

Pharmacies are now administering the Moderna vaccine to anyone over 12 in Australia. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Dan Peled

Sweden and Denmark have temporarily hit pause on the rollout of Moderna jabs for younger people, amid reports of possible rare cardiovascular side effects.

On Wednesday, Sweden’s health agency announced the nation would halt the jabs for those aged 30 and under following an increase in myocarditis and pericarditis – conditions which cause an inflammation of the heart or the heart’s lining – among young people vaccinated with Moderna.

Meanwhile, Denmark has paused the vaccines for those aged under 18.

The decision was based on a study which found a potentially small increase in those cardiovascular conditions post-vaccination with Moderna among younger people.

However, the Swedish Public Health agency stressed the likelihood of experiencing complications was extremely rare, with the decision made out of an abundance of caution.

“The increase in risk is seen within four weeks after the vaccination, mainly within the first two weeks,” the agency said.

“The risk of being affected is very small.”

Sweden and Denmark have temporarily halted the Moderna jabs for younger people. Picture: Angela Weiss/AFP

Sweden’s top epidemiologist Anders Tegnell said in a statement the agency would “follow the situation closely and act quickly to ensure that vaccinations against Covid-19 are always as safe as possible and at the same time provide effective protection”.

Both nations will now offer the Pfizer vaccine to younger people instead of Moderna, with Sweden’s Moderna pause in place until December 1.

Norway already recommends Pfizer for those under 18, with the Norwegian Institute of Public Health’s head of infection control, Geir Bukholm, saying in a statement the risks were higher for younger men.

“Men under the age of 30 should also consider choosing Cominarty when they get vaccinated,” he said in a statement.

Denmark already prioritises Pfizer for those aged 12 to 17, with the nation confirming a pause on Moderna for under-18s according to a “precautionary principle”.

The Danish Health Authority also insisted the potential risk posed by Moderna for younger people was very small, saying in a statement that “heart inflammation is an extremely rare side effect that often has a mild course and goes away on its own”.

Finland is also expected to reach a decision on Moderna for young people this week.

The data comes from a Nordic study which will now be sent to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for further investigation, with final data expected to be released in the coming weeks.