ANKARA

At least 23 people who received Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 shots have died in Norway, with 13 of the fatalities possibly linked to the vaccine’s side effects, authorities said on Thursday.

All 13 individuals were above the age of 80, according to the Norwegian Medicines Agency.

It said common side effects of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, such as fever and nausea, might have led to the death of some elderly patients.

Along with the 13 deaths, nine cases of serious side effects and seven instances of less serious side effects have been recorded, the agency’s medical director, Steinar Madsen, told national broadcaster NRK.

Norway started COVID-19 vaccinations last month, right after the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine was approved by the European Medicines Agency.

Nearly 33,000 people have so far received a dose in the country, according to data by UK-based tracker OurWorldInData.

Latest figures show Norway’s virus caseload currently stands at 57,736, including 511 fatalities.