Doctor: Vaccine warning of increased risk for heart inflammation ‘extremely rare’ and treatable

The FDA’s warning notes of a risk for myocarditis and pericarditis – two types of heart inflammation.

News 12 Staff

Jun 27, 2021, 3:34 PM

Updated 1,260 days ago

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Doctors around the tri-state responded to the FDA's warning to Moderna and Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccines regarding an increased risk of heart inflammation among young people getting vaccinated. 
The FDA’s warning notes of a risk for myocarditis and pericarditis – two types of heart inflammation.
Dr. Christina Johns, a pediatrician and senior medical advisor for PM Pediatric, told News 12 that there does seem to be a link between the vaccine and myocarditis.
"This effect is extremely rare and so far, very, very mild,” Dr. Johns said. 
Of the more than 320 million vaccine doses administered nationwide, the condition has been found in about 1,200 patients – the majority of whom have been young men and adolescent children. 
Dr. Christina Johnss, told News 12 the condition is easily treatable and clears up rather quickly in healthy children and adults. 
The FDA is advising vaccine recipients to seek immediate medical attention if they experience any chest or heart related pain and say that they are monitoring both vaccines closely to assess the long-term effects.
Government health officials say that the benefits of the vaccines against COVID-19 outweigh the risk posed by the side effect.
The FDA said the risk particularly follows the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccines, and symptoms usually appear within a few days of vaccination. The fact sheets say people should seek immediate medical care if they have chest pain, shortness of breath, or a fast, fluttering or pounding heart after vaccination. The FDA noted the change in fact sheets for patients and health care providers in a website post dated Friday. The action followed discussion of the issue Wednesday by a committee that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on vaccinations. After that meeting, top government health officials and medical organizations issued an unusual joint statement saying that the side effect is “extremely rare” and usually mild in young people, and that many recover on their own or with minimal treatment.
AP Wire Services were used in this report.