Sweden, Denmark pauses Moderna vaccine for younger age groups

STOCKHOLM, OCT 6 (REUTERS) - Sweden and Denmark said on Wednesday they will pause the use of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine for younger age groups after reports of possible rare side effects, such as myocarditis.

The Swedish health agency said it would pause using the shot for people born in 1991 and later as data pointed to an increase of myocarditis and pericarditis among youths and young adults that had been vaccinated. Those conditions involve an inflammation of the heart or its lining.

“The connection is especially clear when it comes to Moderna’s vaccine Spikevax, especially after the second dose,” the health agency said in a statement, adding the risk of being affected was very small.

Denmark said that, while it was already using the Pfizer/biontech vaccine as the main option for people aged 12-17 years, it had decided to pause giving the Moderna vaccine to people below 18 according to a precautionary principle.