Suspected side effects reported for COVID-19 vaccines
Like all medicines the COVID-19 vaccines can cause side effects. Common to all vaccines is that the side effects that could occur after vaccination must not be worse than the disease that they are meant to prevent.
Theme
Safety is monitored
The safety of the COVID-19 vaccines is monitored closely in a collaboration between the Danish Medicines Agency, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the other drug regulatory authorities in Europe. Part of this monitoring is based on the reports of side effects submitted by the general public and healthcare professionals. The Danish Medicines Agency continuously assesses based on the submitted reports of suspected side effects if there are any signals of new or changed risks for the vaccines that need to be investigated further.
This page provides an updated overview and status of reports of suspected side effects related to the COVID-19 vaccines.
Reports of side effects are assessed on a continuous basis
The overviews provide status updates on reports received and reports assessed. The total number of reports is higher since some reports are still being reviewed.
Side effect reports are assessed on an ongoing basis. Reports of serious suspected side effects are given first priority.
When healthcare professionals, members of the public or their carers/relatives report suspected side effects to the Danish Medicines Agency, only a suspicion is needed to report symptoms they think are side effects of a certain medicine. In other words, a reported suspected side effect does not mean that there is an established connection between the medicine and the experienced symptoms.
It is not possible to compare the suspected side effects of the different COVID-19 vaccines directly, and there are several reasons why. Firstly, the vaccines have different compositions of active substances, secondly, the vaccines are given to different numbers of people and to different age and risk groups.
How the collaboration with the European Medicines Agency (EMA) works
If the Danish Medicines Agency detects a new signal – information about new or changed risks, such as a new possible side effect or a known side effect that is more serious than expected – the issue is raised with the European Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC), which initiates a thorough investigation of the signal. If these investigations confirm that new or changed risks are related to a COVID-19 vaccine, this could lead to a revision of the product information of the COVID-19 vaccine, a change to who the vaccine can be given to, or even a suspension or withdrawal of the vaccine’s marketing authorisation.
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Page is updated regularly
All COVID-19 vaccines
Overview of suspected side effects reported for COVID-19 vaccines
Updated on 18 January 2022
Total number of administered COVID-19 vaccine doses13.167.343* |
*Source: SSI (Danish State Serum Institute). The number includes COVID-19 doses of the latest vaccination course (first dose, second dose and booster/third dose) administered since 1 December 2020 regardless of vital status.
Total number of received reports of suspected side effects65.763* |
*The number includes all received reports for Comirnaty (33,252), Spikevax (8,013), Vaxzevria (23,892) and COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen, Johnson & Johnson (496) as well as unprocessed reports (110) in which the name of the COVID-19 vaccine was not provided by the reporter.
Number of received reports of suspected side effects
|
Number of received reports of suspected side effects
|
Number of received reports of suspected side effectsof Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca)23.892 |
Number of received reports of suspected side effectsof COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen (Janssen Pharmaceutical/Johnson & Johnson)496 |
Comirnaty (Pfizer/BioNTech)
Updated on 18 januar 2022
Number of administered vaccine doses11.232.023* |
* Source: SSI (Danish State Serum Institute) and the Danish Vaccination Register. The number includes COVID-19 doses of the latest vaccination course (first dose, second dose and booster/third dose) administered since 1 December 2020 regardless of vital status.
Number of received reports of suspected side effects33.252 |
Number of reviewed reports of suspected side effects13.688 |
The vaccine’s known side effects appear from the product information of Comirnaty (Pfizer/BioNTech).
Status update on the monitoring of side effects in Denmark
Updated on 18 January 2022.
The Danish Medicines Agency has received 33,252 reports of suspected side effects of Comirnaty (Pfizer/BioNTech), of which we have reviewed 13,688. Reports of serious suspected side effects are reviewed first.
When healthcare professionals, members of the public or their carers/relatives report suspected side effects to the Danish Medicines Agency, only a suspicion is needed to report symptoms they think are side effects of a certain medicine. In other words, a reported suspected side effect does not mean that there is an established connection between the medicine and the experienced symptoms.
The vast majority of suspected side effects reported after vaccination are mild and moderate. They usually involve known and transient side effects such as reactions at the injection site (e.g. pain and itching), tiredness, headache, muscle pain, joint pain, nausea and fever.
When a vaccine activates the immune system, many will experience flu-like symptoms. This is completely normal and a sign that the body’s immune system is reacting to the vaccine. These reactions occur with most vaccine types, and they usually pass within a couple of days.
However, if the immune system does not react, it does not mean that the vaccine is not working. People simply react differently to being vaccinated.
Table 10 below shows the ten most frequently reported suspected side effects (based on cases reviewed).
| The most frequently reported suspected side effects of Comirnaty (Pfizer/BioNTech) as of 18 January 2022 |
|---|
| Headache |
| Fever |
|
Tiredness |
| Muscle pain |
| Pain at injection site |
| Nausea |
| Joint pain |
| Dizziness* |
| Chills |
| Feeling unwell |
*Dizziness is not described as a known side effect in the product information, but dizziness may occur in connection with flu-like symptoms, such as fever, chills, tiredness and a feeling of being unwell. These are known side effects of the vaccine.
The table below shows the percentage distribution by age of the reports of suspected side effects received and reviewed by the Danish Medicines Agency for Comirnaty (Pfizer/BioNTech):
| Percentage distribution of reviewed reports by age groups (years) for Comirnaty (Pfizer/BioNTech) as of 18 January 2022 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| <5 | 5-11 | 12-15 | 16-19 | 20-39 | 40-64 | 65-79 | 80+ | Ukendt alder | |
| 0,1% | 0,8% | 2,2 % | 3,2 % | 31,5% | 47,4 % | 8,2 % | 5,5 % | 1,1 % | |
When the Danish Medicines Agency monitors the safety of the COVID-19 vaccines – and medicines in general – we pay particular attention to reports of suspected serious and unexpected side effects. This means that we give first priority to these reports and assess them thoroughly to find out if there is a possible link to the vaccine. In this assessment, we may need to obtain additional information about the side effect.
We also monitor suspected side effects after the COVID-19 booster vaccination. Currently, the Danish Medicines Agency has no reason to suspect that the side effect profile of the booster vaccine is any different from the vaccine’s general side effect profile.
Since the vaccine rollout began in Denmark, we have monitored the below focus areas closely as part of the safety monitoring of the COVID-19 vaccines.
Deaths
Like the drug regulatory authorities in other countries, the Danish Medicines Agency has received reports of deaths in the time after vaccination.
The Danish Medicines Agency has so far received and assessed 124 reports involving deaths in the time after vaccination. In all 124 cases, it was assessed to be less likely that the deaths were connected to the vaccine, and that the deaths were more likely to have been caused by other factors.
The reports of deaths are being closely monitored in a collaboration between the Danish Medicines Agency, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the other drug regulatory authorities in Europe.
Blood clots
Like the drug regulatory authorities in other countries, the Danish Medicines Agency has received reports of blood clots in the time after vaccination.
At this time, the Danish Medicines Agency does not suspect the vaccine to cause side effects in the form of blood clots. Blood clots can be explained by several other factors such as the person’s health conditions, including other diseases and medication taken. In addition, the needle prick itself from the vaccine jab may – even when administered correctly – in rare cases cause blood clots. So, blood clots can occur in the time after vaccination without being related to the vaccine.
The reports of blood clots are monitored closely in a collaboration between the Danish Medicines Agency, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the other drug regulatory authorities in Europe.
Children
The Danish Medicines Agency has particular focus on the monitoring of suspected side effects in the vaccination groups of children aged 5 to 11 years and children aged 12 to 15 years. Based on the available data, the general side effect profile for these age groups is comparable to the observations made for the rest of the population, which primarily involve known and transient side effects.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
The Danish Medicines Agency has particular focus on the monitoring of suspected side effects in pregnant women and breast-feeding women. The Danish Medicines Agency’s monitoring has given no reason to suspect the side effect profile of this group to be different from the side effect profile of the rest of the population, nor that the vaccine can affect unborn babies or breast-fed babies. The side effect reports for this group are still subject to close monitoring.
Further information can be found in a review of new studies completed by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) – read more in the Danish Medicines Agency’s announcement from 20 January 2022 here.
Our vaccine safety monitoring currently also focuses on the following three areas:
Multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS)
The Danish Medicines Agency has assessed a single report of a very rare inflammatory condition called MIS-C (Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children) in a 17-year-old boy. The 17-year-old boy has recovered after treatment. The Danish Medicines Agency has informed the European Medicines Agency (EMA) of the Danish report, and other countries have also observed a few cases of MIS in both children and adults in the time after vaccination.
This led the European Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) to investigate the possible link between MIS and the four COVID-19 vaccines. See more information in the Danish Medicines Agency’s announcement of 3 September 2021. PRAC has concluded that there is currently insufficient evidence of a possible link between the COVID-19 vaccines and MIS.
See more information in the Danish Medicines Agency’s announcement of 29 October 2021.
The Danish Medicines Agency and the EMA continue their close monitoring of the reports of MIS after COVID-19 vaccination.
Myocarditis and pericarditis
Like the drug regulatory authorities in other countries, the Danish Medicines Agency has received reports of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) and pericarditis (inflammation of the membrane around the heart) in the time after vaccination.
Myocarditis and pericarditis are known side effects of Comirnaty (Pfizer/BioNTech) and can in very rare cases occur after vaccination. The symptoms can vary but often include shortness of breath and a forceful heartbeat, that may be irregular, and chest pain.
The Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) concluded on 3 December 2021 based on the latest safety data that myocarditis and pericarditis can develop within just a few days after vaccination and primarily within 14 days. The current data indicate that the course of myocarditis and pericarditis after vaccination is no different from myocarditis and pericarditis in general.
Menstrual disorders
Like the drug regulatory authorities in other countries, the Danish Medicines Agency has received reports of irregular menstrual cycles in the time after vaccination. The reported cases concern heavier periods than usual, delayed periods or period-like bleeding after menopause.
Against this background, the Danish Medicines Agency and the European Medicines Agency (EMA)
have investigated side effect reports involving menstrual disorders and irregular menstrual cycles since the summer 2021.
The reported cases of menstrual disorders have been discussed by the Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC), which has assessed that a causal association between COVID-19 vaccines and menstrual disorders cannot be established so far. See more in the announcement issued by PRAC on 6 August 2021.
Likewise, the Danish Medicines Agency has not been able to establish an association between the Danish reported cases of irregular menstrual cycles and COVID-19 vaccination, but it is an area that is still being monitored closely.
Currently, we have forwarded data from the Danish side effect reports to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for their further investigations. Find more information in the Danish Medicines Agency’s announcements of 31 August 2021 and 9 December 2021.
News on dkma.dk
Find all of the Danish Medicines Agency’s announcements on pharmacovigilance (safety monitoring of medicines), including COVID-19 vaccines, here. Some announcements are only available in Danish:
/da/nyheder/nyhedskategorier/nyt-om-laegemiddelovervaagning/
Spikevax (Moderna)
Updated on 18 Januar 2022
Number of administered vaccine doses1.726.693* |
* Source: SSI (Danish State Serum Institute) and the Danish Vaccination Register. The number includes COVID-19 doses of the latest vaccination course (first dose, second dose and booster/third dose) administered since 1 December 2020 regardless of vital status.
Number of recieved reports of suspected side effects8.013 |
Number of reviewed reports of suspected side effects6.489 |
The vaccine’s known side effects appear from the product information of Spikevax (Moderna).
Status update on the monitoring of side effects in Denmark
Updated regulary. Updated on 18 January 2022.
The Danish Medicines Agency has received 8,013 reports of suspected side effects of Spikevax (Moderna), of which we have reviewed 6,489. Reports of serious suspected side effects are reviewed first.
When healthcare professionals, members of the public or their carers/relatives report suspected side effects to the Danish Medicines Agency, only a suspicion is needed to report symptoms they think are side effects of a certain medicine. In other words, a reported suspected side effect does not mean that there is an established connection between the medicine and the experienced symptoms.
The vast majority of suspected side effects reported after vaccination are mild and moderate. They usually involve known and transient side effects such as reactions at the injection site (e.g. pain and itching), tiredness, headache, muscle pain, joint pain, nausea and fever.
When a vaccine activates the immune system, many will experience flu-like symptoms. This is completely normal and a sign that the body’s immune system is reacting to the vaccine. These reactions occur with most vaccine types, and they usually pass within a couple of days.
However, if the immune system does not react, it does not mean that the vaccine is not working. People simply react differently to being vaccinated.
Table 10 below shows the ten most frequently reported suspected side effects (based on cases reviewed).
| The most frequently reported suspected side effects of Spikevax (Moderna) as of 18 January 2022 |
|---|
| Fever |
| Headache |
| Tiredness |
| Pain at injection site |
| Muscle pain |
| Swelling at the injection site |
| Nausea |
| Dizziness |
| Redness at the injection site |
| Joint pain |
The table below shows the percentage distribution by age of the reports of suspected side effects received and reviewed by the Danish Medicines Agency for Spikevax (Moderna).
| Percentage distribution of reports by age groups (years) for Spikevax (Moderna) as of 18 January 2022 |
|||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| <5 | 5-11 | 12-15 | 16-19 | 20-39 | 40-64 | 65-79 | 80+ | Ukendt alder | |
| 0,2% | 0,1% | 0,1% | 0,4% | 48,4 % | 32,8 % | 11,3 % | 6,3 % | 0,5 % |
|
When the Danish Medicines Agency monitors the safety of the COVID-19 vaccines – and medicines in general – we pay particular attention to reports of suspected serious and unexpected side effects. This means that we give first priority to these reports and assess them thoroughly to find out if there is a possible link to the vaccine. In this assessment, we may need to obtain additional information about the side effect.
We also monitor suspected side effects after the COVID-19 booster vaccination. Currently, the Danish Medicines Agency has no reason to suspect that the side effect profile of the booster vaccine is any different from the vaccine’s general side effect profile.
Since the vaccine rollout began in Denmark, we have monitored the below focus areas closely as part of the safety monitoring of the COVID-19 vaccines.
Deaths
Like the drug regulatory authorities in other countries, the Danish Medicines Agency has received reports of deaths in the time after vaccination.
The Danish Medicines Agency has received and assessed 16 reports involving deaths in the time after vaccination. In 15 cases, it was assessed to be less likely that the deaths were connected to the vaccine, and that the deaths were more likely to have been caused by other factors. In one case, it was not possible to assess if the death was caused by the vaccine or the individual’s medical condition.
The reports of deaths are being closely monitored in a collaboration between the Danish Medicines Agency, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the other drug regulatory authorities in Europe.
Blood Clots
Like the drug regulatory authorities in other countries, the Danish Medicines Agency has received reports of blood clots in the time after vaccination.
At this time, the Danish Medicines Agency does not suspect the vaccine to cause side effects in the form of blood clots. Blood clots can be explained by several other factors such as the person’s health conditions, including other diseases and medication taken. In addition, the needle prick itself from the vaccine jab may – even when administered correctly – in rare cases cause blood clots. So, blood clots can occur in the time after vaccination without being related to the vaccine.
The reports of blood clots are monitored closely in a collaboration between the Danish Medicines Agency, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the other drug regulatory authorities in Europe.
Children
The Danish Medicines Agency has particular focus on the monitoring of suspected side effects in the vaccination groups of children aged 5 to 11 years and children aged 12 to 15 years. Based on the available data, the general side effect profile for these age groups is comparable to the observations made for the rest of the population, which primarily involve known and transient side effects.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
The Danish Medicines Agency has particular focus on the monitoring of suspected side effects in pregnant women and breast-feeding women. The Danish Medicines Agency’s monitoring has given no reason to suspect the side effect profile of this group to be different from the side effect profile of the rest of the population, nor that the vaccine can affect unborn babies or breast-fed babies. The side effect reports for this group are still subject to close monitoring.
Further information can be found in a review of new studies completed by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) – read more in the Danish Medicines Agency’s announcement from 20 January 2022 here.
Our vaccine safety monitoring currently also focuses on the following two areas:
Myocarditis and pericarditis
Like the drug regulatory authorities in other countries, the Danish Medicines Agency has received reports of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) and pericarditis (inflammation of the membrane around the heart) in the time after vaccination.
Myocarditis and pericarditis are known side effects of Spikevax (Moderna) and can in very rare cases occur after vaccination. The symptoms can vary but often include shortness of breath, a forceful heartbeat, that may be irregular, and chest pain.
The Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) concluded on 3 December 2021 based on the latest safety data that myocarditis and pericarditis can develop within just a few days after vaccination and primarily within 14 days. The current data indicate that the course of myocarditis and pericarditis after vaccination is no different from myocarditis and pericarditis in general.
Menstrual disorders
Like the drug regulatory authorities in other countries, the Danish Medicines Agency has received reports of irregular menstrual cycles in the time after vaccination. The reported cases concern heavier periods than usual, delayed periods or period-like bleeding after menopause.
Against this background, the Danish Medicines Agency and the European Medicines Agency (EMA)
have investigated side effect reports involving menstrual disorders and irregular menstrual cycles since the summer 2021.
The reported cases of menstrual disorders have been discussed by the Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC), which has assessed that a causal association between COVID-19 vaccines and menstrual disorders cannot be established so far. See more in the announcement issued by PRAC on 6 August 2021.
Likewise, the Danish Medicines Agency has not been able to establish an association between the Danish reported cases of irregular menstrual cycles and COVID-19 vaccination, but it is an area that is still being monitored closely.
Currently, we have forwarded data from the Danish side effect reports to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for their further investigations. Find more information in the Danish Medicines Agency’s announcements of 31 August 2021 and 9 December 2021.
News on dkma.dk
Find all of the Danish Medicines Agency’s announcements on pharmacovigilance (safety monitoring of medicines), including COVID-19 vaccines, here. Some announcements are only available in Danish: /da/nyheder/nyhedskategorier/nyt-om-laegemiddelovervaagning/
Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca)
Updated on 18 januar 2022
Number of administered doses158.331* |
* Source: SSI (Danish State Serum Institute) and the Danish Vaccination Register. The number includes COVID-19 doses of the latest vaccination course (first dose, second dose and booster/third dose) administered since 1 December 2020 regardless of vital status.
Number of received reports of suspected side effects23.892 |
Number of reviewed reports of suspected side effects6.703 |
The vaccine’s known side effects appear from the product information of Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca).
Status update on the monitoring of side effects in Denmark
Updated on 18 January 2022.
The Danish Medicines Agency has received 23,892 reports of suspected side effects of Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca), of which we have reviewed 6,703. Reports of serious suspected side effects are reviewed first.
When healthcare professionals, members of the public or their carers/relatives report suspected side effects to the Danish Medicines Agency, only a suspicion is needed to report symptoms they think are side effects of a certain medicine. In other words, a reported suspected side effect does not mean that there is an established connection between the medicine and the experienced symptoms.
The vast majority of suspected side effects reported after vaccination are mild and moderate. They usually involve known and transient side effects such as reactions at the injection site (e.g. pain and itching), tiredness, headache, muscle pain, joint pain, nausea and fever.
When a vaccine activates the immune system, many will experience flu-like symptoms. This is completely normal and a sign that the body’s immune system is reacting to the vaccine. These reactions occur with most vaccine types, and they usually pass within a couple of days.
However, if the immune system does not react, it does not mean that the vaccine is not working. People simply react differently to being vaccinated.
Table 10 below shows the ten most frequently reported suspected side effects (based on cases reviewed).
| The most frequently reported suspected side effects of Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca) as of 18 January 2022 |
|---|
| Headache |
| Fever |
| Muscle pain |
| Chills |
| Tiredness |
| Joint pain |
| Pain at injection site |
| Nausea |
| Dizziness |
| Pain |
The table below shows the percentage distribution by age of the reports of suspected side effects received and reviewed by the Danish Medicines Agency for Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca).
| Percentage distribution of reports by age groups (years) for Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca) as of 18 January 2022 |
|||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| <5 | 5-11 | 12-15 | 16-19 | 20-39 | 40-64 | 65-79 | 80+ | Ukendt alder | |||||
| 0% | 0% | 0% | 1% | 40,7 % | 57,2 % | 0,3% | 0% | 0,8% | |||||
When the Danish Medicines Agency monitors the safety of the COVID-19 vaccines – and medicines in general – we pay particular attention to reports of suspected serious and unexpected side effects. This means that we give first priority to these reports and assess them thoroughly to find out if there is a possible link to the vaccine. In this assessment, we may need to obtain additional information about the side effect.
Denmark has not used the Vaxzevria vaccine in the general vaccination programme since 11 March 2021 when the Danish Health Authority put vaccination with Vaxzevria on hold (read the announcement on SST.dk). On 14 April 2021, the Danish Health Authority decided to continue the vaccine rollout without the COVID-19 Vaxzevria vaccine (read the announcement on SST.dk). From 20 May 2021 to 31 August 2021, it was possible for Danes to choose vaccination with Vaxzevria under the optional scheme. The Danish Medicines Agency monitors the vaccine just like all the other vaccines included in the general vaccination programme. Vaxzevria is monitored by drug regulatory authorities around the world like the other COVID-19 vaccines used in Denmark.
Since the vaccine rollout began in Denmark, we have monitored the below focus areas closely as part of the safety monitoring of the COVID-19 vaccines.
Deaths
Like the drug regulatory authorities in other countries, the Danish Medicines Agency has received reports of deaths in the time after vaccination.
The Danish Medicines Agency has so far received and assessed four reports involving deaths in the time after vaccination. These two deaths are related to thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) as described under the heading below. In addition, the Danish Medicines Agency has received and assessed two reports involving deaths in the time after vaccination. In both cases, it was assessed to be less likely that the deaths were connected to the vaccine, and that the deaths were more likely to have been caused by other factors.
The reports of deaths are being closely monitored in a collaboration between the Danish Medicines Agency, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the other drug regulatory authorities in Europe.
Reports of blood clots and of unusual symptoms of blood clots in combination with low blood platelets
In Denmark and other countries, reports have been submitted on the very rare, yet serious cases of the combination of blood clots and low platelets, called thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) in some cases accompanied by bleeding. In these cases, the blood clots were located at different or unusual sites and with excessive blood coagulation or bleeding throughout the body. Most of these cases occurred within the first three weeks after vaccination. Some cases had a fatal outcome.
The Danish Medicines Agency has reviewed a total of three cases in which it was assessed to be TTS. Two of these three cases involved deaths. The Danish Medicines Agency considers it likely that all three cases could be linked to the vaccine. TTS is described in the product information as a very rare side effect of Vaxzevria.
Like the drug regulatory authorities in other countries, the Danish Medicines Agency has received reports of blood clots in the time after vaccination in which there was no combination with low blood platelets (and thus not TTS).
Blood clots can be explained by several other factors such as the person’s health conditions including other diseases and medication taken. In addition, the needle prick itself from the vaccine jab may – even when administered correctly – in rare cases cause blood clots. So, blood clots can occur in the time after vaccination without being related to the vaccine.
Based on safety data, the product information of Vaxzevria was updated to include cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST, blood clots in the brain) without thrombocytopenia (low levels of blood platelets).
The Danish Medicines Agency has received and reviewed very few cases of CVST in the time after vaccination with Vaxzevria.
The reports of deaths are being closely monitored in a collaboration between the Danish Medicines Agency, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the other drug regulatory authorities in Europe.
News on dkma.dk
Find all of the Danish Medicines Agency’s announcements on pharmacovigilance (safety monitoring of medicines), including COVID-19 vaccines, here. Some announcements are only available in Danish:
https://laegemiddelstyrelsen.dk/da/nyheder/nyhedskategorier/nyt-om-laegemiddelovervaagning/
COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen (Janssen Pharmaceuticals/Johnson & Johnson)
Updated on 18 Januar 2022
Number of administered doses50.296* |
*Source: SSI (Danish State Serum Institute) and the Danish Vaccination Register. The number includes COVID-19 doses of the latest vaccination course (first dose, second dose and booster/third dose) administered since 1 December 2020 regardless of vital status.
Number of received reports of suspected side effects496 |
Number of reviewed reports of suspected side effects434 |
Status update on the monitoring of side effects in Denmark
Updated every second week. Updated on 18 January 2022.
The Danish Medicines Agency has received 496 reports of suspected side effects of COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen (Janssen Pharmaceuticals/Johnson & Johnson), of which we have reviewed 434. Reports of serious suspected side effects are reviewed first.
When healthcare professionals, members of the public or their carers/relatives report suspected side effects to the Danish Medicines Agency, only a suspicion is needed to report symptoms they think are side effects of a certain medicine. In other words, a reported suspected side effect does not mean that there is an established connection between the medicine and the experienced symptoms.
The vast majority of suspected side effects reported after vaccination are mild and moderate. They usually involve known and transient side effects such as reactions at the injection site (e.g. pain and itching), tiredness, headache, muscle pain, joint pain, nausea and fever.
When a vaccine activates the immune system, many will experience flu-like symptoms. This is completely normal and a sign that the body’s immune system is reacting to the vaccine. These reactions occur with most vaccine types, and they usually pass within a couple of days.
However, if the immune system does not react, it does not mean that the vaccine is not working. People simply react differently to being vaccinated.
Table 10 below shows the ten most frequently reported suspected side effects (based on cases reviewed).
| The most frequently reported suspected side effects of COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) as of 18 January 2022 |
|---|
| Fever |
| Headache |
| Muscle pain |
| tiredness |
| Nausea |
| Joint pain |
| Chills |
| Dizziness |
| Pain at injection site |
| Sensory disturbance in feet, legs, arms or hands |
The table below shows the percentage distribution by age of the reports of suspected side effects received and reviewed by the Danish Medicines Agency for COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen (Janssen Pharmaceuticals/Johnson & Johnson).
| Percentage distribution of reports by age groups (years) for COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen (Janssen Pharmaceuticals/Johnson & Johnson) as of 18 January 2022 |
|||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| <5 | 5-11 | 12-15 | 16-19 | 20-39 | 40-64 | 65-79 | 80+ | Ukendt alder | |||||
| 0% | 0% | 0% | 0,2% | 89,5% | 8,9% | 0,5% | 0% | 0,9% | |||||
When the Danish Medicines Agency monitors the safety of the COVID-19 vaccines – and medicines in general – we pay particular attention to reports of suspected serious and unexpected side effects. This means that we give first priority to these reports and assess them thoroughly to find out if there is a possible link to the vaccine. In this assessment, we may need to obtain additional information about the side effect.
In Denmark, COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen (Janssen Pharmaceuticals/Johnson & Johnson) is not currently used in the general vaccination programme.
From 20 May 2021 to 31 August 2021, it was possible for Danes to choose vaccination with COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen (Janssen Pharmaceuticals/Johnson & Johnson) under the optional scheme. The Danish Medicines Agency monitors the vaccine just like all the other vaccines included in the general vaccination programme. The COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen (Janssen Pharmaceutical/Johnson & Johnson) is monitored by drug regulatory authorities around the world like the other COVID-19 vaccines used in Denmark.
Since the vaccine rollout began in Denmark, we have monitored the below focus areas closely as part of the safety monitoring of the COVID-19 vaccines.
Deaths
Like the drug regulatory authorities in other countries, the Danish Medicines Agency has received reports of deaths in the time after vaccination.
The Danish Medicines Agency has received and assessed one report involving a death in the time after vaccination with COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen. It has been assessed to be less likely that the death was connected to the vaccine, and that the death was more likely to have been caused by other factors.
The reports of deaths are being closely monitored in a collaboration between the Danish Medicines Agency, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the other drug regulatory authorities in Europe.
Reports of blood clots and of unusual symptoms of blood clots in combination with low blood platelets
In Denmark and other countries, reports have been submitted on the very rare, yet serious cases of the combination of blood clots and low platelets, called thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) in some cases accompanied by bleeding. In these cases, the blood clots were located at different or unusual sites and with excessive blood coagulation or bleeding throughout the body. Most of these cases occurred within the first three weeks after vaccination.
The Danish Medicines Agency has reviewed one case in which it was assessed to be TTS. The Danish Medicines Agency has considered it likely that it could be linked to the vaccine. TTS is described in the product information as a very rare side effect of COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen (Janssen Pharmaceuticals/Johnson & Johnson).
Like the drug regulatory authorities in other countries, the Danish Medicines Agency has received reports of blood clots in the time after vaccination in which there was no combination with low blood platelets (and thus not TTS).
Blood clots can be explained by several other factors such as the person’s health conditions including other diseases and medication taken. In addition, the needle prick itself from the vaccine jab may – even when administered correctly – in rare cases cause blood clots. So, blood clots can occur in the time after vaccination without being related to the vaccine.
Venous thromboembolism, a special type of blood clots, is a known, rare side effect of COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen (Janssen Pharmaceuticals/Johnson & Johnson).
The reports of blood clots are monitored closely in a collaboration between the Danish Medicines Agency, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the other drug regulatory authorities in Europe.
News on dkma.dk
Find all of the Danish Medicines Agency’s announcements on pharmacovigilance (safety monitoring of medicines), including COVID-19 vaccines, here. Some announcements are only available in Danish:
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