COVID-19 - archived news 2021

Pfizer has announced reduced vaccine deliveries starting next week and for some time ahead. The NIPH has an emergency stockpile and can deliver as planned to municipalities and health services.

Following a report in Denmark of a death from a blood clot after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine, Norway has chosen to suspend vaccination with the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Vaccination coverage varies with country of birth, according to a new review about the proportion of people vaccinated among immigrant groups. The reasons for the differences are unknown.

The Government has, in accordance with the advice of the National Institute of Public Health (NIPH), decided to offer an additional dose (booster dose) to the older age groups. It is recommended to start with vaccination for the age group 85 years and older as well as nursing home residents. The additional dose can be given no earlier than 6 months after receiving their second vaccine dose. The offer to the age group 85 years and above will be followed by booster vaccination in stages of the age group 75-84 and then the age group 65-74.

The pandemic will put a damper on the 2021 Christmas celebration, as it did last year. To reduce the spread of infection, it is necessary to limit contact with family and friends. Here is the NIPH’s advice for the Christmas season.

The Norwegian Institute of Public Health will allocate more vaccine doses to areas at particular risk for infection and introduce a new distribution key for vaccines.

Combining vaccines provides similar protection and carries no greater risk of serious side effects than having both vaccines from the same manufacturer.

The Government has decided to follow the Norwegian Institute of Public Health's recommendation to offer coronavirus vaccination to adolescents aged 12-15 years.

The Ministry of Health and Care Services has decided to follow the National Institute of Public Health's recommendation to offer an extra dose of mRNA vaccine to those who have received one dose of the Janssen vaccine.

As of 8 December, around 70 % of just over 100 participants at a Christmas party held on 26 November at a restaurant in Oslo have been subsequently diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2. Of those who are infected, 17 are confirmed as being infected with the omicron variant.

Today, the NIPH confirmed by whole genome sequencing that a participant at an event in Oslo was infected with the omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

On Thursday, the Norwegian COVID-19 certificate will be updated so that it can be checked in other EU and EEA countries.

From 16 August, children and adolescents under the age of 18 may be released from infection quarantine if someone in their class, leisure activity or social circle is infected, as long as they are tested regularly.

Pregnant women who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 have no apparent increased risk of miscarriage, according to a new study from the Centre for Fertility and Health at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH).

Due to the rapid spread of the omicron variant, everyone who is recommended to have a booster dose should accept the coronavirus vaccine they are offered.

During the last five weeks, a sharp increase in transmission has been seen among most age groups in Norway, but not among the oldest who have the highest vaccination coverage.

The Norwegian Medicine Agency is asking people who had the AstraZeneca vaccine in the last 14 days and who feel increasingly unwell to be alert.

The Government has decided to move to a normal daily life with increased preparedness. This means that most corona restrictions will be removed from Saturday at 4 p.m. However, it is still important with hand hygiene, cough etiquette, and staying at home and being tested if you are sick.

The NIPH is working to obtain more information and assess the new virus variant discovered in South Africa. It is still too early to say which consequences the new variant may have for the infection situation in Norway.

Fully vaccinated people have shorter hospital stays and a lower risk of needing intensive care treatment, according to a new study from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.

The Norwegian Institute of Public Health has prepared an updated risk assessment of the development of the omicron variant in Norway. - Our assessment is that the situation is still serious, says department director Line Vold.