Healthy Boys More Likely To Be Hospitalized With Pfizer Side Effect Than Covid-19: Study | World news

Healthy adolescents are more likely to be hospitalized with a rare side effect after the second dose of Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine than the virus itself, according to a new study. US researchers studied the rate of post-vaccination cardiac myocarditis cases in the 12-15 and 16-17 age groups to analyze the benefits and risks of administering mRNA vaccines to adolescents.

The researchers identified a total of 257 vaccine-related adverse cardiac events (ACEs) after the second dose of the mRNA vaccine. The rate of CAE per million among boys aged 12 to 15 was 162.2 compared to 94.0 among boys aged 16 to 17. Among girls, the equivalent rates were 13.0 and 13.4 per million, respectively.

The study suggests that the rate of CAE was 3.7 to 6.1 times higher among healthy boys aged 12 to 15 than their risk of hospitalization for Covid-19 in 120 days as of August 21. The rate of CAE was 2.6 to 4.3 times higher during periods of high risk of weekly hospitalization, such as in January 2021.

“For boys aged 16 to 17 without medical comorbidity, the rate of CAE is currently 2.1 to 3.5 times higher than their risk of 120-day Covid-19 hospitalization, and 1.5 to 2, 5 times higher during periods of strong weekly Covid-19 hospitalization, ”he added. study says.

The study has not yet been peer reviewed and is currently available on a pre-print server.

Read also | Myocarditis: all you need to know about the disease linked to Covid-19

The United States had issued a warning to watch for symptoms of myocarditis after a small number of cases of heart inflammation were reported in adolescents. While the United States has continued to administer mRNA vaccines to young adolescents, the British Immunization Advisory Body has not recommended inoculating every 12-15 years with mRNA vaccines.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization (JCVI) had estimated that although the benefits of vaccination are “slightly greater”, there is “considerable uncertainty as to the extent of the potential harm”. The committee further recognized that the risk-benefit margin is “too small” to advise on a universal immunization program for healthy children 12 to 15 years of age.

“As longer-term data on potential adverse effects accumulate, greater certainty may allow reconsideration of the pros and cons. This data may not be available for several months, ”JCVI said in an independent report.