There are reports of heart problems occurring in young adults and teenagers who have received both the shots of the covid-19 mRNA vaccine.
Heart Inflammation In Teenagers Followed By Receiving The Vaccine Doses; CDC To Probe Into The Incidences
Medical officials have undertaken an investigation to understand the incidences.
What the initial reports imply
Data was collected from the Department of Defense, the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), and the Vaccine Safety Datalink.
Reports of a heart condition called myocarditis were based on the data and submitted to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in a meeting held on 17th May.
The reports surface a week after the Pfizer covid-19 vaccine received clearance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in children below 12 years of age.
As for individuals above 18 years, the Moderna vaccine is authorized for use.
However, the report did not mention which vaccine was used that caused the heart condition.
What the experts say about the report
Experts like Dr. Lawrence Kleinman, professor and vice-chair of the department of pediatrics at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, believe that such reports signify transparency at all levels and that the vigilance systems are working.
The group reports that the instance of myocarditis is low.
For those diagnosed with it, the intensity is mild and below the expected rate.
The heart condition is more prevalent in young adults and teenagers. Male individuals are more susceptible to developing the condition compared to females.
Reportedly, the symptoms emerged after four days of taking the second shot of the vaccine.
The group suggests that information about the probable adverse effect of the vaccination should be provided with the healthcare professionals for better management of the heart condition if such emergencies do arise
As stated by the report group, follow-ups are going on the cases to gather more information.
Understanding myocarditis
Myocarditis is defined as the inflammation of the cardiac muscle that hinders the normal electrical system of the heart.
As a result, the heart loses its ability to pump blood.
Symptoms of myocarditis in children include fever, fainting, difficulty in breathing, hasty breathing, and rapid, unusual heart rhythms known as arrhythmias.
According to Kleinman, it is not very common in children, but it is not absolutely rare either that it can be fully attributed to the vaccine doses.
As stated by Dr Federico Laham, medical director for Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children Infectious Diseases, myocarditis can be induced by a variety of other viruses, including the covid-19.
How common is myocarditis?
Instances of myocarditis emerged during the covid-19 pandemic, particularly in children suffering from Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome-Children (MIS-C).
MIS-C is a critical condition that usually follows the covid-19 infection. The condition is characterized by acute inflammation of certain organs and tissues.
According to few medical experts, the cases of myocarditis may not be caused by vaccines but asymptomatic covid-19 infection or any other viral infection commonly noticed during the spring-summer season.
There was a reduction in myocarditis cases the previous year as children followed the general hygiene guidelines, practiced physical distancing, and wore masks; resurgence of cases is expected this year as the covid-19 protocols are eased out, as stated by Laham.
The way ahead.
Medical experts believe that it is unlikely on the part of the CDC to put a ban on the Pfizer vaccine, as was witnessed with the J&J vaccine during ongoing investigation on the blood clot instances.
According to the data of the CDC on 24th May, more than 155 million Pfizer and 123 million Moderna vaccines have already been administered across the states.
As stated by Kleinman, taking full time out of the vaccination is a luxury that cannot be afforded as children still form a large proportion of the population that has remained unvaccinated.
Given the low recurrence of the cases there is no reason to stop the vaccines, Laham said while agreeing with the observations of Kleinman.
