Reports of suspected adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccines in Switzerland – update
Bern, 13.08.2021 - Up to 10 August 2021, Swissmedic evaluated 5,304 reports on suspected adverse drug reactions (ADR) to COVID-19 vaccinations in Switzerland. The majority of the reports involved more than one reaction. At 3,466 (65.3 %), most of the reports were classified as not serious, while 1,838 (34.7 %) reports were classified as serious.
Most of the reports were submitted by medical professionals, while a relatively large number (1,612, or 30.4 %) came directly from those affected, i.e. the patients. The average age of those affected was 57.7 years (range 16–101), with 21.9% aged 75 or over. In the cases classified as serious, the average age was 61.3 years, and for reports temporally linked to a death it was 80.7 years. In 133 serious cases, the people concerned died at differing intervals after receiving the vaccine. Despite a chronological correlation, there is no concrete evidence to suggest that the vaccination was the cause of death.
The majority of the reports concerned women and there were a few cases where no gender was specified. 3,279 (61.8 %) reports involve Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine, while 1,934 (36.5 %) are associated with Pfizer/BioNTech’s Comirnaty®. In 91 (1.7%) cases, the vaccine was not specified.
The reports of adverse reactions received and analysed to date do not alter the positive benefit-risk profile of the COVID-19 vaccines used in Switzerland. This largely confirms their known side effects profile. Known side effects of COVID-19 vaccines are listed in the continually updated medicinal product information texts published on www.swissmedicinfo.ch.
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