The US FDA will now add rare cases of heart inflammation as a possible side effect of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines in their respective factsheets.
The decision comes after a vaccine safety panel of the US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) and Centre for Disease Control and prevention (CDC) reviewed cases of heart inflammation in teens and young adults and came to the conclusion that they are likely linked to the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, reported Reuters.
The CDC and FDA, however, continue to recommend the vaccine for everyone over the age of 12 on the grounds that the benefits outweigh the risks.
What the CDC Is Saying
According to the US CDC's updated Adverse events after vaccination report, over a thousand cases of heart inflammation post vaccination have been reported in the US since April.
And as of 21 June, 616 cases of myocarditis, reported to the VAERS (Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System) has been in young people.
Here's what we know about it so far,
These cases have all been in young people aged 30 and below.
Most of these people have been male adolescents.
Most cases have occurred after receiving mRNA vaccines.
The review by the vaccine safety panel comprising of advisory groups from the US CDC and FDA has concluded that, given the evidence, it is likely linked to the vaccines.
The instances of heart inflammation have been higher after the second dose of vaccine.
The symptoms typically show up a few days after vaccination
Patients recover and are able to get back to their normal activities once the symptoms subside.
They also add that most myocarditis patients who receive medical assistance respond well to treatment and recover fast.
At the same time, the US CDC and FDA have alerted doctors to watch for symptoms of myocarditis in those getting vaccinated.
They hope that the new warning will alert more people and raise awareness of the possible side effect.
Apart from myocarditis, the US CDC has also
Symptoms to Look Out For
According to the US CDC, the telling symptoms of Myocarditis to look out for post vaccination are,
Chest pain
Fluttering or pounding heart
Shortness of breath
If someone, particularly those under 30 experience any of these symptoms within one week of being vaccinated, the CDC recommends seeking medical help.
(Written with inputs from Reuters)
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