COVID Vaccines Linked to Rare Heart, Brain, and Blood Disorders, Largest Vaccine Study Finds
A recent study conducted by researchers from the Global Vaccine Data Network has found a link between COVID vaccines and rare occurrences of heart, brain, and blood disorders. This study, which is the largest vaccine study to date, analyzed data from 99 million people who received vaccinations in eight different countries. The researchers monitored for increases in 13 medical conditions and found a slight spike in neurological, blood, and heart-related disorders associated with the vaccines.
One of the rare conditions linked to the vaccines is myocarditis, which is inflammation of the heart muscle. Cases of myocarditis were found in individuals who received the first, second, and third doses of Pfizer-BioNTech’s and Moderna’s mRNA vaccines. Additionally, pericarditis, inflammation of the cardiac muscle, had a 6.9-fold increased risk in those who received a third dose of AstraZeneca’s viral-vector shot.
The study also identified an increased risk of a type of blood clot in the brain from viral-vector shots such as the one developed by the University of Oxford and manufactured by AstraZeneca. Furthermore, there was a 2.5 times greater risk of developing Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare neurological disorder, among people who received AstraZeneca’s jab.
The researchers also found possible safety signals for transverse myelitis, a spinal cord inflammation, and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, inflammation and swelling in the brain and spinal cord. These signals were identified after both viral-vector and mRNA vaccines.
It is important to note that more than 13.5 billion doses of COVID vaccines have been administered worldwide since the start of the pandemic. While a small proportion of those immunized experienced adverse effects, the benefits of the vaccines still outweigh the risks. Jacob Glanville, CEO of biotech company Centivaix, emphasized this point, stating, “The odds of all of these adverse events is still much, much higher when infected with SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), so getting vaccinated is still by far the safer choice.”
Dr. Marc Siegel, a clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center, shared a similar conclusion. He noted that the study revealed rare associations between mRNA vaccines and myocarditis, especially after the second shot, as well as an association between the Oxford AstraZeneca adenovirus vector vaccines and Guillain-Barre syndrome. However, he emphasized that these risks are rare and that other studies have shown that the vaccine dramatically decreases the risk of myocarditis from COVID itself.
Ultimately, it is crucial to conduct a risk/benefit analysis when considering the vaccines. While all vaccines have side effects, denying or exaggerating these side effects is not good science. It is also important to recognize the risks of the virus itself, especially in high-risk groups. The vaccines offer protection against severe illness and long-term side effects associated with COVID-19.
The study’s findings highlight the importance of ongoing research and monitoring of vaccine safety. As more data becomes available, scientists and healthcare professionals can continue to make informed decisions regarding vaccination strategies. The Post has reached out to Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca for comment on the study’s findings.
