The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines can cause rare heart conditions in men, particularly young men and boys, after a second dose, according to new data provided to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Monday. But experts say the protections still outweigh the newly confirmed risks.
Scientists said a small percentage of vaccinated men experienced the temporary side effects.
The data revealed that out of 1 million vaccinated men ages 12 to 39, roughly 14 to 20 people experienced heart problems. So for every million doses given to boys 16- to 17-years-old, more than 70 of them could expect to experience the heart-related side effect. At the same time, more than 56,000 people would avoid contracting the virus that causes COVID-19, and another 500 would avoid hospitalization, scientists predicted.
“The data suggest an association of myocarditis with mRNA vaccination in adolescents and young adults,” Dr. Grace Lee, a Stanford University pediatrician, said Monday. “Further data are being compiled to understand potential risk factors, optimal management strategies and long-term outcomes.”
Federal watchdogs compiled the data, including the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), co-managed by the CDC and FDA, and the Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD), a partnership between the CDC’s immunization safety department and several health care groups.
Federal officials are examining the pros and cons of approving the COVID-19 vaccine for young children. They have considered the risks of myocarditis — inflammation of the heart muscle that can reduce its ability to pump — and pericarditis — inflammation of the tissue that surrounds the heart to keep it in place.
VAERS said as of mid-August, it had received more than 2,500 complaints of heart issues related to the vaccines, mainly concerning the second dose of the shot in men. VSD shared similar findings. Patients generally experienced the symptoms within a week of their follow-up shot.
Most of the patients who suffered the heart-related symptoms had been admitted to the hospital, but at least three-fourths recovered in just two days. There were no deaths.
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