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Geneva, Jul 12 (IANS): The World Health Organization (WHO) has found very rare cases of heart inflammation following vaccination with Covid-19 mRNA vaccines such as Pfizer and Moderna, but the benefits always outweigh the risks.
The cases were mild and were found more often in young men after the second dose, the world health body said.
The WHO Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety (GACVS) said cases of myocarditis and pericarditis have been reported in the United States and several other countries. Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle, while pericarditis is inflammation of the lining that surrounds the heart.
“Very rare cases of myocarditis and pericarditis have been observed after vaccination with Covid-19 mRNA vaccines. These cases have occurred more often in younger men and after the second dose of the vaccine, usually a few days after vaccination. Current evidence suggests a probable causal association between myocarditis and mRNA vaccines, “the WHO said in a statement.
The available data also suggest that the immediate cause of myocarditis and pericarditis following vaccination is usually mild and responds to rest, treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, etc.
Almost 40.6 cases of myocarditis per million second dose in men and 4.2 cases per million in women have been reported as of June 11, 2021 in people aged 12 to 29 years who received the vaccines to Covid-19 mRNA, according to data from the US Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS).
For people over 30, the reporting rates were 2.4 and 1.0 per dose per million seconds, respectively, for males and females.
The link was also confirmed by the European Medicines Agency, the European medicines regulatory body.
The EMA Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) has confirmed “a plausible causal relationship between myocarditis and mRNA vaccines” in Europe.
Yet “the benefits of Covid-19 mRNA vaccines continue to outweigh the risks of myocarditis and pericarditis, even in young people,” the WHO said.
Symptoms indicative of myocarditis or pericarditis include recent and persistent chest pain, shortness of breath or palpitations after vaccination.
The world health body has advised clinicians to be aware of the risk of myocarditis and pericarditis with mRNA vaccines and of those most likely to be affected – adolescents or young men. He also asked those vaccinated to see a doctor immediately if they develop such conditions.
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