Regulator explains how mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine benefits outweigh heart risks

*There has been increasing concern that possible cardiovascular side effects could threaten vaccine uptake among young Americans as the highly transmissible Delta variant is hitting under-vaccinated hot spots in the United States, says Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has thrown more light on how the inherent benefits of messenger RNA (mRNA) COVID-19 Vaccines clearly outweigh the risks despite heart complications observed in some young men.

Roughly 1,200 cases of myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart wall, were reported in people who received mRNA vaccines, the CDC said in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report Tuesday, July 6.

Researchers opined that with about 296 million doses of mRNA Vaccines having been administered as of June 11, 2021, the benefit is clear in all populations, including adolescents and young adults.

Vaccines made by Moderna Incorporated and the Pfizer Incorporated-BioNTech SE partnership are the only mRNA inoculations authorised for emergency use in the US. The issue was first explored in a June 23 meeting of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunisation Practices, reports Bloomberg.

It was gathered there has been increasing concern that these possible cardiovascular side effects could threaten vaccine uptake among young Americans as the highly transmissible COVID-19 Delta variant is hitting under-vaccinated hot spots of the country.

The health agency said that fact sheets should be provided before mRNA vaccinations. In the same vein, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Emergency Use Authorisation has been modified to include information on myocarditis after receipt of mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines.