Corona current
Does the Biontech vaccine cause heart muscle inflammation?
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According to an investigation, there could be a connection between corona vaccinations with the agent from Biontech / Pfizer and heart muscle inflammation that has occurred.
After a few cerebral vein thromboses caused by the AstraZeneca corona vaccine, another company is now faced with similar allegations: According to a study by Israeli researchers there could be a link between vaccinations with the Biontech / Pfizer vaccine and inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis). The Israeli Ministry of Health reports that more than five million people vaccinated between December and May had a total of 275 cases of myocarditis.
Young men especially affected
The study result suggests one Association between the second dose of the vaccine and myocarditis in young men between the ages of 16 and 30 at. The inflammation occurred more frequently in men between 16 and 19 compared to other age groups. However, the connection between vaccination and disease has not yet been actually proven – further investigations are to follow here. Because apart from the vaccination, a bacterial infection could also be the cause of the myocarditis. It is also possible that it is the result of an infection with the coronavirus.
Benefits of vaccination outweigh the risk
According to the Israeli pandemic control coordinator Nachman Asch, Israel will start vaccinating 12 to 15-year-olds from next week. After lengthy consultations with the Ministry of Health, this plan is now being adhered to: “The benefits outweigh the risks,” said Asch. A message from the ministry said: “The cases of myocarditis in 16 to 19-year-olds were rare and usually went without complications.”
Pfizer has since said that the company is aware of the investigations from Israel. So far, however, no causal connection between the vaccine and myocarditis has been proven. In addition, so far there is no data to prove that there is currently a higher rate of heart muscle inflammation than one would normally expect in the population. Possible side effects would be closely monitored and there would be an exchange with the vaccine safety department in the Israeli Ministry of Health.
Sources used: zeit.de, tagesspiegel.de Message from the Israeli Ministry of Health