Tag: covid19

Misinformation and conspiracy theories may have caused fewer immigrants to take the Covid-19 vaccine

Researchers have investigated what may have contributed to fewer immigrants taking the Covid vaccine.

Common cold can make children immune to Covid-19

Children can develop immunity against Covid-19 after having fought off a particular type of cold virus. The ability to develop such immunity decreases with age.

Covid-19 hygiene measures caused skin problems

They avoided the virus but damaged their skin. More hand washing and sanitising gave four out of ten healthcare workers greater problems with the skin on their hands.

Long Covid: Here's what we know so far

The most common symptoms are changes in taste and smell. More women than men are affected, and symptoms appear to diminish over time. These are some of the findings from a recent review of studies on long Covid.

Norway: 7 per cent more deaths than expected this year – due to Covid

The numbers are showing an excess mortality in Norway in 2022. Up until mid-November this year 7 per cent more deaths than expected were recorded.

Increased incidence of menstrual changes following the Pfizer Covid vaccine among young girls

A new study shows that there is an increased incidence of menstrual irregularities following the Pfizer vaccine against Covid-19 in girls aged 12 to 15.

Covid spreads more easily in dry indoor air. Does that mean we should buy humidifiers?

One study finds that Covid spreads the least at 40 to 60 per cent humidity. Can a humidifier save your holiday party from becoming a spreading event?

Same amount of long Covid symptoms following Omicron and Delta variants

New research shows that those who have been infected by the Omicron variant of the Coronavirus report long Covid just as often as those who were infected with the Delta virus.

Only Norway and Denmark avoided increased mortality during the pandemic

The Covid-19 crisis led to a reduction in life expectancy that rich countries have not experienced since the war.

Now researchers know how the sickest COVID-19 patients have fared

They have good news for COVID patients who ended up in a coma and on a ventilator in Norwegian intensive care units.

New Norwegian study: Cod liver oil does not protect against Covid-19

Taking cod liver oil with vitamin D does not protect against getting infected with the coronavirus, becoming seriously ill with Covid, or other respiratory infections.

Long Covid: 46 per cent of Covid infected people in a Norwegian study report long-term effects

The study also finds that the symptoms can worsen over time.

Positive vaccine news following Norway's first omicron outbreak

The Covid vaccine protects against serious symptoms from omicron infection, even when the vaccine antibodies are no longer effective.

COVID-19 triggered the most severe economic crisis ever in the Nordic countries – but also the shortest

Researchers have studied the success of the Nordic countries in their economic management of the crisis.

Hugs are back in Norway

As Norwegians get back to hugging, the numbers of deaths due to Covid are also at peak. Why does one researcher say that this is completely fine?

Nordic study confirms rare side effect from Covid vaccination in young men

Young men have a higher risk of myocarditis – inflammation of the heart muscle – after a second dose of an mRNA vaccine, according to a recently published study.

People who remained sick long after their COVID-19 infection often had alterations in their intestinal bacteria

Some COVID patients still had poor lung function three months after admission to Norwegian hospitals. These patients also had alterations in their intestinal flora and possible evidence of a leaky gut, a new study shows.

The Norwegian economy fared better in the pandemic than all its Nordic neighbours

The economic downturn in Norway during the pandemic year of 2020 was far less than that experienced by the other Nordic countries according to a new report.

How different governments communicated during coronavirus

SHARE YOUR SCIENCE: Poor communication will significantly undermine national responses to a pandemic.

One in five new mothers was treated disrespectfully while giving birth during the pandemic

“I think it’s sad if one in five women is left with the feeling of not being treated with respect and dignity,” said one of the researchers behind the study.

One third of new mothers had symptoms of depression during the pandemic

Every third mother who gave birth during the pandemic experienced symptoms of depression, according to a large Norwegian study. Ten years ago, the same was true for every tenth mother of an infant.

Do glasses and sunglasses protect against Covid? Norwegian researchers are going to find out.

The Norwegian Institute of Public Health are currently looking for people to join their study of glasses as protection against being infected with Covid.

New vaccine to tackle both the flu and Covid in one shot

Norwegian researchers are developing a classic seasonal vaccine against the flu and Covid, which they claim will give much better protection than what current vaccines have to offer.

Pregnant women hesitated to get vaccinated, that may have led to them falling seriously ill with Covid

A lack of demands to include pregnant women in the early stages of drug development may have contributed to unclear advice and vaccine hesitancy.

Norwegian study confirms that Omicron gives a lower risk of hospitalization

People infected with Omicron have a 73 per cent lower risk of ending up in hospital compared to those who are infected with the Delta variant, according to a new study from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.

Mild long-term effects of Covid last longer among the youngest children

A new Norwegian study finds that children aged 1-5 visited their doctor more often due to long term effects of covid compared to to older children.

New study on Long Covid: Brain fog, poor memory and shortness of breath one year after infection

Norwegian study of unvaccinated Covid patients finds two clusters of symptoms that persist after one year. Long Covid is perhaps not one syndrome, the researchers suggest.

Vaccinated people seldom end up in intensive care due to Covid

Nearly 350 000 people were infected with Covid in Norway in 2021. But only 30 vaccinated and otherwise healthy people have ended up in intensive care with Covid since December 2020. “The vaccines give an incredible protection”, says chief physician.

First patient injected with Norwegian T-cell vaccine against Covid

A jab of a Norwegian T-cell vaccine created by Nykode Therapeutics has been given to the first human to participate in a clinical trial of the vaccine.

Patients who lost their sense of smell after Covid-19 are queuing up for help

Desperate patients who cannot smell their baby or think shampoo smells like sewage are queuing up for help from smell and taste specialist Preet Bano Singh at the University of Oslo. She is the only doctor in the country who offers qualified treatment.

Norwegian study finds that Covid vaccines may affect menstruation

There has been an increase in menstrual irregularities for young women after receiving their Covid vaccine, according to a large population study done by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.

Mild Covid disease gave almost year-long protection, according to Norwegian study

94 per cent of participants in a not yet published study had good amounts of antibodies in their blood up until a year after infection.

Can you catch Covid from Christmas presents?

ASK A RESEARCHER: Can you get infected by the coronavirus by opening a present wrapped by somebody who has Covid-19?

Oslo Christmas party outbreak: Most of the non-infected were vaccinated with Moderna

New study finds that a larger share of the non-infected at that infamous Christmas party were vaccinated with Moderna, compared to Pfizer. The data are not sufficient to conclude that one vaccine protects better against Omicron than others.

Nine reasons why immigrants in Norway were hit harder by Covid-19

Among the reasons listed in a new report are language barriers as well as delayed isolation, tracing and quarantining.

Norwegian researchers hope to be the first to figure out Omicron – collecting biological samples from infected people in their spare time

Established Norwegian covid-studies have allowed for a rapid in-depth Omicron study which is already well on the way.

Not a single person has been hospitalized after massive Oslo Christmas party Omicron outbreak

Most of the 145 infected people are now well again, says infection controller.

At least 140 people were infected with Covid-19 after Christmas party in Oslo

The Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) have released preliminary findings of their investigations into an Oslo Christmas party which caused widespread Covid infections. It is assumed that most of the 140 confirmed cases are infected with Omicron.

Vaccine researcher: “Menstrual changes are probably related to the vaccine”

The number of women reporting irregularities in their periods as a side effect make it difficult to find any other explanation than the covid vaccine, according to Norwegian researcher Gunnveig Grødeland.

Less happy with life during the pandemic

One year after the pandemic broke out in Norway, a Statistics Norway survey reveals that almost one in three respondents reported that they were unhappy with life. This is an increase from the previous year.

In times of crisis people usually postpone having children – but in Norway, the pandemic resulted in a baby boom

The Norwegian trend completely breaks with the researchers' theory and diverges from most other countries in Europe.

From grassroots to government: far-right threats to academic freedom

In recent years, and particularly since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, far right forces have increased efforts to systematically undermine the principles of academic freedom. Léonie de Jonge, Iris Beau Segers and Cathrine Thorleifsson highlight the urgency of defending academic freedom against governmental interference and protecting researchers from threats and intimidation.

The coronavirus is here to stay, researchers say

The coronavirus may eventually act like other coronaviruses that cause colds, researchers believe.

Europe's strictest rules for crossing the borders was not enough to stop the Delta virus

40 per cent of the Delta cases in Norway may have come from one single trip.

Poor studies on long Covid are sensationalized by the media

OPINION: The media are overdramatising poor studies concerning the long-term effects of Covid-19.

Poverty increases the risk of children being infected by Covid-19

How and where they live affect the chances for young people of catching Covid-19.

People who were seriously ill with Covid-19 are doing surprisingly well today

Doctors and researchers have studied long-term effects of Covid-19 in Norwegians who were seriously ill with the disease. They are surprised by the results.

Thousands of Norwegians will participate in study on the effect of a third Covid vaccine dose

More than 16 000 Norwegians will participate in a study which will examine the effect of a third Covid vaccine dose for people who have a weakened immune system.

Researchers detected coronavirus in the air four meters away from infected persons

Coronavirus has been found in particles in the air four meters away from sick individuals, according to a new report from the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment.

Will be paid damages after AstraZeneca vaccination

Three individuals have been granted damages from The Norwegian System of Patient Injury Compensation due to serious side effects experienced after vaccination with the AstraZeneca Covid vaccine.

Norwegian study: More than half of young people with mild Covid-19 infections experienced Long Covid

Six months after the infection, more than 50 per cent of young adults aged 16-30 still had symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath and trouble concentrating.

Sky-high estimates were not high enough: Almost everybody says yes to the Covid vaccine in Norway

More than 90 per cent of Norwegians said yes to the offer of a Covid vaccine. This may give Norway the world's best vaccine coverage. But it also means delays in the vaccination programme.

Fewer people than expected died in Norway last year. The opposite is true in Sweden

Sweden recorded nearly 7000 more deaths than under normal circumstances during the pandemic year of 2020.

Received medal for work on Norwegian Covid-test

Hospitals were about to run out of other test kits, but the crisis was averted thanks to Magnar Bjørås, professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology NTNU, and his team. Now he's being awarded for his role in developing a Covid-test in an unprecedented short period of time.

What kind of side effects do people really get from the COVID-19 vaccine? Here’s how the Norwegian Medicines Agency is answering this question

“Lots of people are being given vaccines over a very short period, so it’s important to monitor them and follow what’s happening,” says Gunnar Fløan Rimul from the Norwegian Medicines Agency.

How protected are you after one dose of an mRNA vaccine?

Three weeks after your first dose of an mRNA vaccine, you should be protected from the coronavirus. So why do we have to get two doses? We ask the experts.

Norwegian Medicines Agency about Johnson & Johnson:“We usually don’t use vaccines with lethal side effects”

Norwegian health authorities are working on establishing a volunteer scheme for those who wish to take the Johnson & Johnson vaccine outside of the national programme – but is it even legal?

Norwegian health experts strongly disagree with the government's decision to offer Johnson & Johnson vaccine voluntarily

“We are of the opinion that doctors should not participate in this," says the president of the Norwegian Medical Association.

A few nursing home patients died earlier than expected after getting the Covid-vaccine

If patients in nursing homes are not expected to live that much longer anyway, there is little to gain from being vaccinated against Covid-19, a Norwegian group of experts conclude.

Here come the corona babies? 700 more births in Norway compared to the same period last year

It’s too early to say whether or not this is due to corona, but the increase starts nine months after the first lockdown in Norway.

Norwegian drug may increase ventilator free survival in hospitalized Covid-19 patients

Trial shows that a drug called bemcentinib has the potential to increase the rate of ventilator free survival in more than 50 per cent of hospitalised COVID-19 patients, according to company press release.

More than 75 per cent reported mild side effects after the AstraZeneca vaccine in Norway

Just under 29 per cent of respondents in a study said they experienced the same type of mild side effects after the first dose of a Pfizer vaccine, compared to 75,7 per cent of those who had a shot of AstraZeneca.

Norwegian expert committee:Country should not use AstraZeneca or the Johnson & Johnson vaccines

Norwegian expert commission: Country should not use AstraZeneca or the Johnson & Johnson vaccines

A Norwegian expert committee has recommended the government do not include adenoviral vector based vaccines in the national vaccination programme.

These groups of people drank more alcohol during the pandemic

The most common explanation for drinking more was that they deserved it.

The AstraZeneca debate has not created anti-vaxxers in Norway

Eight out of ten Norwegians say they believe vaccines in general are safe.

Closing schools did not give a better effect than strict infection measures

Comparing Norwegian municipalities that chose different strategies allowed researchers to compare.

Here’s why women are more likely to report vaccine side effects

Biological differences related to gender may be part of the reason.

Rare side effects from the AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines may have been seen in 15 year old animal studies

That a high dosage of adenovirus in the bloodstream could lead to clotting, low levels of platelets and antibodies to platelets was known 20 years ago from animal studies in gene therapy.

Norway continues the pause in vaccinations with AstraZeneca

The Norwegian Institute of Public Health recommended that the AstraZeneca vaccine be removed from the Norwegian vaccination programme - but the government wants to wait until we know more.

Yes, we can prevent future pandemics

OPINION: With new health threats perhaps just an airflight away, we need to ask how countries like Norway can contribute in the global effort to prevent future pandemics.

People vaccinated with AstraZeneca reported mild bleeding episodes significantly more often than those who got an mRNA vaccine

“These findings could potentially indicate that the adenovirus-vectored vaccine leads to bleeding disorders not only in rare cases”, Norwegian researchers write in an unpublished study.