A health boss has sought to reassure the public about the safety of the Pfizer vaccine after 23 deaths were reported in Norway.

The European nation disclosed that 23 elderly and frail people died within days of taking the Covid jab.

According to the British Medical Journal the deaths are being investigated by the Norwegian Medical Agency to see if there’s a link.

Colin Cox, Cumbria director of public health, said: “The vaccine’s undergone rigorous safety trials and been shown to be safe for use.

“Side effects are generally mild, more severe reactions are extremely rare. As with any vaccine it is not recomm-ended for use in some people, and clinical assessment will be carried out in each case.

“We are focusing vaccination on the oldest and most vulnerable groups, as they are in Norway, and in that situation it is likely that some people will coincidentally become more ill shortly after having been vaccinated.

“Medical staff will review cases but they’re more likely to be related to general poor health rather than the vaccine.”