Messenger RNA vaccine from Pfizer-BioNTech, one of the pillars of the fight against it COVID-19It can cause very rare cardiac side effects. The suspicions are nothing new as investigations are underway in the United States and the European Union. But that was reinforced this week by a brief circular from the Israeli Ministry of Health. This text is actually a compilation of reports from three expert groups on cases of post-injection myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) in this country, where the vaccination campaign is open to people over 16 years of age. December in which 63% of the population received at least one dose.
Myocarditis in young adults between the ages of 16 and 30 years
The epidemiologist’s conclusion was carefully formulated as follows: “There may be an association between doses of both vaccines and the onset of myocarditis in young people aged 16-30 years. This relationship appeared to be stronger at age 16 than at age 16. 19 years of age compared to other age groups. It is more fragile in the elderly. In most cases, myocarditis is not serious.”
The ministry determined that illnesses, characterized by chest pain, palpitations or difficulty breathing, are generally “benign” although they may require a brief hospital stay. Often this pathology of young people has a viral cause (influenza, coronavirus, etc.).
“benign” disorder in 95% of cases
The investigation focused on 275 cases of myocarditis reported in the country between December 2020 and May 2021. Among them, 148 cases entered the month following vaccination; 37 after the first dose; 121 after the second. If an increased risk were shown to exist, it would still be very low because the study involved more than 10.4 million injections. The disturbance is considered ‘mild’ in 95% of cases and most patients spend less than four days in the hospital.
Security signals emerged in Israel in April but also in the United States, where 14 potential side effects on military personnel have been identified by the Ministry of Defense. On May 28, licensing Pfizer-BioNTech products to those aged 12 to 15, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) stated that the small size of the clinical trials did not allow for identifying “rare side effects”. .
European and American Survey
He also points out that “cases of myocarditis and pericarditis are very rare” [inflammation de la membrane entourant le cœur]“Analyzed. In France, where vaccination for children aged 12-18 is due to start on June 15, authorities are also researching the topic. In a recent pharmacovigilance report, the National Agency for Drug Safety (ANSM) noted that 20 cases of severe myocarditis had been identified — some in women or people over the age of 50. “The role of vaccines cannot be ruled out,” he said.
Also read – Should teens be vaccinated in France?
Pending the conclusions of European and American surveys, there is one certainty that provides guidance to health authorities: this vaccine, more than 90% effective in preventing serious forms, saves many lives, especially in adults, the elderly or the frail.
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