At the end of April, the Israeli health authorities indicated that several dozen people who Pfizer–vaccine had contracted myocarditis, without being able to establish a cause-and-effect relationship. After several weeks of studies, they come up with their conclusions.
Initially, 62 cases of vaccine-related myocarditis had been reported. Today, Israel’s health ministry said it eventually registered 148 cases where the patient had received a dose of the vaccine. This figure rises to 275 for all myocarditis cases registered in the country between December 2020 – the month in which the vaccination campaign started – and May 2021.
The numbers, in detail
The Israeli authorities have confirmed what they announced more than a month ago: these myocarditis cases mainly occurred in young men. And this time, after research, it appears that a link between the vaccine and this inflammation of the heart muscle can be established with more certainty.
The study found that “there is a likely association between receiving the second dose (of the Pfizer vaccine) and the occurrence of myocarditis in men between the ages of 16 and 30,” the Department of Health press release said.
According to the results of the study, this association was observed more in men aged 16 to 19 than in other age groups. Similarly, the link between the vaccine and myocarditis diminishes with age.
The Israeli authorities wanted to be as transparent as possible by associating these myocarditis cases with the fact that many victims already suffered from pre-existing conditions:
- Shortly after the first dose: 16 cases in people with no previous conditions.
- Shortly after the first dose: 11 cases in people with pre-existing conditions.
- Within 30 days of the second dose: 61 cases in people with no pre-existing conditions.
- Within 30 days of the second dose: 60 cases in people with pre-existing conditions.
This is in proportion to the slightly more than 5 million people vaccinated in Israel during this period.
Very few serious cases
Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart muscle which in some cases can lead to heart failure, irregular heartbeat or sudden death. So in light of the numbers above, this can be particularly troubling.
However, the Israeli authorities want to reassure us. Of the 275 cases of myocarditis reported since December 2020, 95 percent are classified as mild. In most cases, patients were able to leave the hospital after a maximum of four days.
Only one myocarditis-related death was recorded, but the study failed to demonstrate a true causal relationship “conclusively,” the report said, according to The Times of Israel.
Israel’s Ministry of Health awaited this study before approving — or not — using the Pfizer vaccine for 12- to 15-year-olds. Now that the investigation has been completed, it is expected that the green light will be given soon.
“The committee has given the green light to vaccinate 12 to 15-year-olds, which will be possible as early as next week,” Nachman Ash, Israel’s pandemic response coordinator, told radio. The effectiveness of the vaccine outweighs the risk.
Some experts have advised giving only one dose to mitigate the possible side effects of the second dose. No decision has been made at this time.
Professor Dror Mevorach, chief of internal medicine at Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem and author of the report, estimates that 50 percent of parents will choose to have their child(ren) vaccinated.
Pfizer denies
Pfizer responded to the publication of the Israeli study. The US pharmaceutical company said in a statement that it was aware of Israel’s sightings of myocarditis, but noted that a causal relationship to its vaccine has not been established.
Side effects are closely monitored, and Pfizer meets regularly with the Israeli Ministry of Health’s vaccine safety department to discuss the data, the company added.
As for the US, an advisory panel from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) last month recommended further investigation into a possible link between cases of myocarditis and the mRNA vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna).
Currently, “relatively few” cases have been reported in vaccinated American youth. However, CDC experts remain vigilant and ask health care providers to keep them informed of reports of a “potential adverse event.”
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