COVID-19 Vaccination Benefits Outweigh Risks of Heart Inflammation, CDC Says

U.S. health officials are working quickly to add a warning about rare cases of heart inflammation to the fact sheets for COVID-19 vaccines. 

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) panel on Wednesday acknowledged a likely association between the COVID-19 vaccines and rare cases of myocarditis or pericarditis in adolescents and young adults, but officials say the benefits of vaccination still outweigh the risks.

“[Myocarditis] has been around for a while. Traditionally, there have been thought to have viral triggers, although there can be others,” Matthew Oster, MD, a member of the CDC COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force said during the meeting. “It does appear that mRNA vaccine may be a new trigger for myocarditis, yet it does have some different characteristics in the presentation and particularly the course of how patients are doing.”

There have been over 1,200 reports of post-vaccination myocarditis or pericarditis reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), according to the Wednesday presentation by CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Data shows that a majority of people affected are men and boys under 30. In reported cases, symptoms typically surfaced within one week of a vaccination, most commonly after the second dose.

CDC officials are gathering more data to fully understand the potential risks, how to manage it and whether there are any long-term issues.

“If you’re a month or so out from your vaccination, feel pretty reassured that this is not a side effect you’re going to have,” Jenifer Haythe, MD, a cardiologist at Columbia University Medical Centers, tells Verywell.

Haythe adds that outside factors, including viruses like COVID-19, can contribute to myocarditis, particularly around this time of year. Coxsackievirus is one example that circulates in the early summer and has the potential to trigger myocarditis. 

“I would be surprised if the CDC decided to halt the vaccine in this age group,” Haythe says. “But it's certainly something that doctors, parents, and people should be on the lookout for.”

Some warning signs include sharp chest pains especially when sitting forward, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, and arrhythmia, she adds.

After Wednesday’s meeting, the CDC safety group will work with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to finalize wording for warnings on the fact sheets for Pfizer’s and Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines.

“I just remind my patients that myocarditis can happen anyway, even without COVID around, or a COVID vaccine around,” Haythe says. “It's a very small risk, and COVID-19 also carries a risk of developing myocarditis. I still would recommend people to get the vaccine.”

The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit our coronavirus news page.