On Wednesday, a safety group associated with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced a possible link between heart inflammation and young people who have received the COVID-19 vaccine. The finding raises alarm bells at a time when the U.S. vaccination rate has sharply declined to approximately 820,000 per day.
The White House has acknowledged it won’t meet a July 4 goal of getting 70% of U.S. residents vaccinated with at least one dose. This latest news is sure to give some even more pause. COVID-19 vaccines have been heavily scrutinized from the start. The research, testing, trials, mass production, distribution, emergency approval from the Food and Drug Administration, and administration all occurred in a remarkably short time frame. That alone has made some people extremely reluctant. Worst of all, the vaccines have become another partisan talking point.
Vaccines still represent the best weapon against COVID-19. Infection and death rates have dropped dramatically in recent months, and it’s not due to masks and social distancing. Thanks to the vaccines, life is slowly returning to normal all around the country.
The cases of myocarditis or pericarditis that have been associated with the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines are extremely rare side effects but aren’t insignificant. As with everything else that’s pandemic-related, common sense should exist alongside appropriate levels of caution.
According to reports, heart inflammation related to these vaccines has occurred at a rate of approximately 12.6 cases per million. Those affected were teenagers or young adults, and it mostly occurred after the administration of the second dose. Among those who developed heart inflammation, most have been mild and have recovered. As with receiving any medical treatment, vaccines or otherwise, the final decision should come down to the individual. And any problems should be addressed immediately. However, concluding that a rare condition determines the COVID-19 vaccines are unsafe would only be fearmongering.
There is no reason to outright reject COVID-19 vaccines based on rare side effects, even serious ones. This type of news is all too readily embraced by the anti-vaccination crowd, eager to find something with which to prop up their long-standing claims. At the same time, it’s prudent to have concerns and take the appropriate steps to mitigate those concerns. Doing so requires balance and consideration. This approach has been necessary during the entire pandemic.
The more significant heart-related concern is connected to the virus itself. COVID-19 is known to cause damage to the heart — and not just among those who struggled with cardiovascular disease before contracting COVID-19. The damage includes muscle inflammation and can adversely affect the function of the heart. While almost 80% of those affected with vaccine-related heart inflammation have recovered, long-term heart damage as a result of having the virus is possible. Dr. Sean P. Pinney, with the University of Chicago, said as much: “It is plausible to assume that COVID-19 survivors will be more vulnerable to long-term cardiac morbidity.”
Those eager to prove that COVID-19 vaccines are unsafe are still unable to make their case. This is true despite dangerous but rare side effects such as blood clots or heart inflammation. COVID-19 is not something to take lightly. And when comparing the effects of vaccines versus the virus, the facts continue to show that the latter is far worse.
Kimberly Ross (@SouthernKeeks) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner’s Beltway Confidential blog and a columnist at Arc Digital.
