The GACVS COVID-19 Vaccine Safety subcommittee convened virtually on January 19, 2021 to review the data on deaths that have been reported among frail, elderly individuals who were administered the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 mRNA vaccine, BNT162b2.

On the basis of scientific review of the information available, the subcommittee concluded that the reports do not indicate any unexpected rise in deaths in frail, elderly individuals. Additionally, there is no indication of any unusual characteristics of adverse events after vaccine administration.

The reports are in agreement with the expected all-cause mortality rates and causes of death in the frail, elderly sub-population. The information that is available does not suggest that the vaccine contributed to the reported fatalities. The committee thus considered that the benefit-risk balance of the vaccine was favorable in the elderly, and did not suggest any revision to the recommendations around its safety… (WHO, January 22, 2021)