Sweden suspends Moderna vaccine for those 30 and under
CTV
Swedish health authorities on Wednesday suspended the use of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine for those ages 30 and under, saying the move was done out of precaution.
The reason for the pausing is "signals of an increased risk of side effects such as inflammation of the heart muscle or the pericardium" -- the double-walled sac containing the heart and the roots of the main vessels, Sweden's Public Health Agency said in a statement. "The risk of being affected is very small."
Anders Tegnell, Sweden's chief epidemiologist, said they "follow the situation closely and act quickly to ensure that vaccinations against COVID-19 are always as safe as possible and at the same time provide effective protection" against the disease.
In July, the European Medicines Agency recommended authorizing Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 12 to 17, the first time the shot has been authorized for people under 18.
Moderna's vaccine was given the green light for use in anyone 18 and over across the 27-nation European Union in January. It has also been licensed in countries including Britain, Canada and the U.S., but so far its use hasn't been extended to children. To date, the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine is the only one approved for children under 18 in Europe and North America.
