COVID Vaccination Unlinked to Heart Attacks: Study Finds

A new study has found no evidence that COVID-19 vaccination increases the risk of heart attacks or other cardiovascular events. The study, which was published in the journal Circulation, analyzed the data of more than 6 million people who received the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines in the US between December 2020 and May 2021.

The study compared the rates of heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, and other cardiovascular events among the vaccinated and unvaccinated groups within 42 days after vaccination. The study also adjusted for factors such as age, sex, race, ethnicity, and medical history.

The study found that the vaccinated group had a slightly lower rate of heart attacks than the unvaccinated group (2.19 vs 2.42 per 10,000 person-years). The vaccinated group also had a similar or lower rate of other cardiovascular events than the unvaccinated group. The study concluded that COVID-19 vaccination does not increase the risk of cardiovascular events and may even have a protective effect against heart attacks.

The study is one of the largest and most comprehensive studies to date to examine the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in relation to cardiovascular outcomes. The study adds to the growing body of evidence that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective in preventing severe COVID-19 infection and its complications.

The study also provides reassurance to people who may have concerns about the rare reports of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) or pericarditis (inflammation of the lining around the heart) after COVID-19 vaccination. The study found that these events were very rare (less than 1 per 100,000 doses) and mostly mild and self-limiting. The study also found that the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination outweighed the risks of these events.

The study’s lead author, Dr. Krishnan Ramanathan, a cardiologist at Kaiser Permanente Northern California, said: “Our findings provide reassurance to patients and clinicians that COVID-19 vaccination is not associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events and may even offer some protection against heart attacks. We encourage everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated as soon as possible to protect themselves and others from COVID-19.”

ALSO READ: 2023’s Varied COVID Symptoms