Now that hundreds of millions of doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in the U.S., an abundance of safety data has been collected. While this data shows that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective at helping prevent infection, extremely rare adverse reactions can occur.
Myocarditis and pericarditis are conditions that have occurred following COVID-19 vaccination in a very small number of people. Most cases are mild, and individuals often recover on their own or with minimal treatment. Myocarditis and pericarditis are much more common if you get COVID-19. The risks to the heart from COVID-19 infection can be more severe.
What is myocarditis and pericarditis?
Myocarditis is a rare condition that causes inflammation of the heart muscle. Pericarditis is inflammation of the outer lining of the heart. These responses have been reported as very rare adverse reactions to coronavirus mRNA vaccines. They are not unique to COVID-19 vaccination.
are typically caused from infection with a virus, including viruses that cause the common cold. The cause of these conditions is not always known.
What are the symptoms?
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Fever
Who does it impact?
Post-vaccine myocarditis and pericarditis are more common among young people ages 12 to 21 years old. According to a study published by the American Heart Association, myocarditis and pericarditis were more commonly reported among males (90%).
What is the association with COVID-19 vaccines?
Rare cases of inflammation of the heart have occurred after the second dose of mRNA vaccines (Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech). Symptoms typically occur within a week after the second dose of the vaccines. The association is so rare that, according to a , there were only 54 reported cases of myocarditis among more than 2.5 million people vaccinated—or 0.002%. As of July 2021, there were of myocarditis or pericarditis in the U.S.
What are the outcomes of post-vaccine myocarditis and pericarditis?
Data collected from found that symptoms of post-vaccine myocarditis and pericarditis are generally mild, and symptoms often resolved on their own or with minimal treatment. Less than 20% of patients in the study were admitted to the ICU; among those patients, only two needed medication to support the heart or help with blood pressure. Overall, recovery in the hospital was short, minimal medication was needed, and patients recovered quickly. No deaths were reported.
Is myocarditis more likely to occur after COVID-19 infection?
A showed that individuals with COVID-19 infection were at least 11 times more at risk for developing myocarditis than people who had been vaccinated. Among children myocarditis and pericarditis more typically occur after development of multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) following COVID-19 infection. MIS-C is a condition that causes different parts of the body to become inflamed, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, and gastrointestinal organs. Children who develop MIS-C are much more likely to be admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and need medication. The at least 9,584 cases of MIS-C causing 79 deaths among children in the U.S.
Similarly, a and a large . that included adults found that myocarditis is more common after COVID-19 infection than after vaccination.