Cardiac Adverse Reactions With COVID-19 Vaccinations

Mikhail L De Jesus1, Jevin Yabut1, Manish Kumar2

  • 1Medicine, University of Connecticut Health, Farmington, USA.

Cureus
|February 24, 2022
PubMed

Insights

The COVID-19 pandemic caused millions of deaths. While mRNA vaccines are effective, rare cases of myocarditis and pericarditis after the second dose warrant further investigation.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cardiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant global mortality.
  • mRNA vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna) have been crucial in combating the pandemic.
  • While generally safe, rare adverse events like myocarditis and pericarditis have been reported post-vaccination.

Observation:

  • This report details two cases of myocarditis and pericarditis.
  • These cardiac conditions occurred following the second dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.
  • Differential diagnoses were considered, but vaccine association remains a possibility.

Findings:

  • The presented cases highlight a potential link between mRNA COVID-19 vaccination and the development of myocarditis and pericarditis.
  • The temporal association suggests the vaccine as a plausible etiological factor in these instances.
  • Further research is necessary to fully understand this association.

Implications:

  • Healthcare providers should be aware of these potential vaccine side effects.
  • Continued monitoring and research are essential to assess the safety profile of COVID-19 vaccines.
  • Understanding rare adverse events is critical for public trust and vaccine program success.

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