The case review involved patients in the U.S. military health system who experienced myocarditis after they received an mRNA vaccine dose for COVID-19—the disease caused by the CCP virus—between Jan. 1 and April 30.
It found that 23 males presented with “acute onset of marked chest pain” within four days of receiving a vaccine dose. Seven received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and 16 received the Moderna vaccine, both of which use messenger RNA (mRNA) technology.
The group’s age ranged 20-51, with a median of 25. All “had a final diagnosis of myocarditis without infectious, ischemic, or autoimmune etiologies identified,” according to the study. Eight of the patients also underwent diagnostic scans that yielded results consistent with myocarditis. All have either recovered or were recovering at the time of the report’s publication.
Of the 23 males, 22 are military members and one is a retiree. All military members were “physically fit by military standards and lacking any known history of cardiac disease, significant cardiac risk factors, or exposure to cardiotoxic agents.”
Of the cohort, 20 people—19 of whom are military members—had their symptoms start after the second vaccine dose. Among the remaining three patients who had just one shot before reporting chest pain, all had “confirmed COVID-19 infection more than 2 months prior to vaccination.”
“The observed number of male military members who experienced myocarditis after their second dose of mRNA vaccine, while relatively small, is substantially higher than the expected number,” the study authors wrote, citing general population estimates that predicted eight or fewer cases of myocarditis from the 436,000 male military members who received two vaccine doses.
All 23 males “reflect substantial similarities in demographic characteristics, proximate vaccine dose, onset interval, and character of vaccine-associated myocarditis,” the study authors noted. “The consistent pattern of clinical presentation, rapid recovery, and absence of evidence of other causes support the diagnosis of hypersensitivity myocarditis.”
They later added, “Presentation after second vaccine dose or, in 3 patients, when vaccination followed SARS-CoV-2 infection, suggests that prior exposure was relevant in the hypersensitivity response.”
More than 2.8 million doses of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines were administered by the Military Health System between Jan. 1 and April 30. Of the total doses, 1,065,000 were second doses; 544,000 were second doses administered to military service members, and 436,000 were second doses administered to male military service members.
In an emailed statement to The Epoch Times on June 30, Pfizer said that it is aware of the “rare reports of myocarditis and pericarditis” after mRNA COVID-19 vaccination, which it acknowledges “predominantly in male adolescents and young adults.”
Citing the CDC, Pfizer said that it is “an extremely rare side effect, and only an exceedingly small number of people will experience it after vaccination. Patients have typically rapidly improved with conservative treatment.”
“It is important to note that CDC continues to strongly encourage COVID-19 vaccinations for eligible individuals aged 12 and older,” the company said. “With hundreds of millions of doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine administered globally, the benefit risk profile of our vaccine remains positive.”
Moderna has not responded to a request for comment to The Epoch Times as of late June 30.
The fact sheets warned of potential onset of myocarditis and pericarditis within a few days after receiving the vaccine, and “particularly following the second dose.”
Heart inflammation can also occur due to COVID-19.
Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock maintained that the benefits of receiving the shots outweigh the risk.
Dr. Tom Shimabukuro, a CDC official, had presented the data to the CDC’s vaccine advisory committee. According to his presentation, heart inflammation occurred at a rate in 12- to 39-year-olds of “12.6 cases per million second doses of any mRNA vaccine in the 21 days following vaccination,” with rates higher in males.
The FDA’s authorization of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines for emergency use marked the first time it did so for vaccines that use mRNA technology.
