The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that there have been more than 300 incidents of heart inflammation in young people that are linked to COVID19 vaccination. The director of the CDC Dr. Rochelle Walensky has said that more than 20 million young adults and adolescents have been immunized in the United States so far. She has said that adverse reactions linked to vaccination are rare. However, cases of either myocarditis or pericarditis that entail inflammation in the heart or the surrounding tissue are far greater than what experts have expected earlier in this age group. As per the report, the independent advisory group of the CDC that is known as the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will be holding a meeting next week to review these cases. This meeting has been scheduled to take place this week but has been postponed to next week after President Joe Biden has passed a bill into law announcing Juneteenth a federal holiday. The committee is expected to discuss the safety data on myocarditis after vaccination. Experts have said that the advisory group will not make any changes to the current COVID19 vaccination recommendations.
As of now, a shot that is developed by Pfizer-BioNtech is the only approved vaccine for kids who are in the age group of 12 to 17 years. However, adults who are 18 years and above can get any COVID19 shot such as Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson. Health experts are still unsure whether cases of heart inflammation are linked to COVID19 shots. On the other hand, experts from the CDC have said that a growing body of evidence has been indicating a link between heart inflammation and COVID19 shots. Dr. Paul Offit, who is a vaccine expert at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, has said that the meeting of the advisory group might lead to a clear picture of the current risk for either kids or young adults due to shots. Dr. Walensky has directed clinicians to be vigilant about patients who might be dealing with signs and symptoms of myocarditis or pericarditis after getting the shots. Health experts have said that fever, fatigue, shortness of breath, and pain in the chest are some common signs and symptoms of myocarditis or pericarditis. However, most cases of myocarditis or pericarditis have not been severe so far, said the experts.
The director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Rochelle Walensky has said that most patients have recovered from this adverse side effect with supportive standard care and rest. The medical director for infectious prevention at Atrium Health in Charlotte, Dr. Katie Passaretti has said that she has seen many people who have been dealing with mild or minimal signs and symptoms of this side effect have improved on their own with time. Dr. Rochelle Walensky has claimed that the gathering of experts, which is going to take place next week shows that the US health officials are constantly making efforts to keep people’s safety on priority. Despite rising cases of heart inflammation in young adults and children after vaccination, health experts in the US have advised that getting the shots is the only way out of the COVID19 pandemic. They have said that many studies have shown that the benefits of getting the shot have outweighed the risk of side effects after vaccination.