OSLO (Reuters – Norway is withholding the second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine for children between 12 and 15 until further research has been conducted. The reason being that there was a rare side effect involving inflammation, which health officials stated on Friday.

The Nordic countries have so far not recommended the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine for minors.

According to the health ministry, there is no need for urgency because children are at low risk of becoming seriously ill by COVID-19. Also, a single vaccine can provide protection of up to 85% of the disease for as long as 16 weeks.

According to the Norwegian Institute of Public Health’s (FHI), “a second vaccination dose can also be linked with an increased risk of myocarditis/pericarditis, particularly among young men” in a statement.

Myocarditis refers to inflammation of heart muscle and the outer lining. Pericarditis can be described as inflammation.

After obtaining more data from the Nordic studies, the FHI will reassess the situation in early 2022.

Norway’s decision is similar to Britain’s September decision that only one dose would be given for this age group.

Norway stated separately that it would give more than 620,000 doses. Moderna (NASDAQ:) vaccines it has no use for. These doses won’t be administered via COVAX, but through the European Union to other countries.

Norway, a non-EU member state, is a part of the single European Market and received vaccines for COVID-19 from the EU.