Authorities in Finland, Denmark, and Sweden have ordered a reduction in the use of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine among young people due to concerns about rare cardiovascular side effects. Finland's National Health Authority announced on Thursday that it will stop administering the Moderna vaccine to young people, stating that all males aged 30 and under will be offered the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine instead, according to CNBC.
This decision follows announcements from the Swedish and Danish health authorities on Wednesday, both of which will restrict the use of the Moderna vaccine in similar demographics. In Sweden, the vaccine will no longer be used for individuals born in 1991 or later, while Denmark has temporarily halted the use of the Moderna vaccine for anyone under 18 years old.
The decision by the three countries to limit the use of the Moderna vaccine stems from concerns that it may be linked to cases of myocarditis, a condition where the heart muscle becomes inflamed. The three health authorities cited an unpublished study conducted by Northern European countries that has been submitted to the European Medicines Agency for evaluation, according to Reuters.
In most cases, individuals affected by myocarditis recover without any complications; however, in some rare and more severe cases, there can be heart damage. Myocarditis is more likely to occur in younger males after receiving their second dose of the Moderna vaccine, according to Finland's National Health Authority.
During a press conference on COVID-19 on Thursday, Mika Salminen, director of health security at the Finnish National Health Authority, stated that the potential risks posed by the Moderna vaccine appear to be higher for younger males. According to local media reports, he indicated that the agency's guidance is that the vaccine should not be administered to males and boys under 30 at this time, and that the Pfizer vaccine should instead be used.
