Pfizer and Moderna have begun studying the prevalence of myocarditis in young men following COVID-19 vaccination.
The Food and Drug Administration issued Moderna a license to manufacture, sell, and distribute its vaccine in early January 2022 with the condition that Moderna study both the long-term and short-term effects of the vaccine.
As a result, Moderna has launched two trials studying the risk of myocarditis — the latest one in September.
On the other hand, Pfizer has yet to study myocarditis in COVID-19 vaccine recipients but plans to begin a study of 500 in the next couple of months.
Both Moderna and Pfizer’s studies follow many others that have shown a link between myocarditis and COVID-19 vaccination, especially in men aged 16 to 24.
Most recently, a study published November 7 in the American College of Cardiology suggested that young men who received the Moderna vaccine were two to three times as likely to develop myocarditis as those who received the Pfizer vaccine.
However, young men who received the Pfizer shot still appeared more likely to develop myocarditis than the general population.
The CDC has yet to publish long-term studies focusing on the younger population but estimated that there had been 52 and 56 cases of myocarditis per million for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine, respectively.
However, other studies found that this may be an underestimate. An Israel study found one out of every 10,000 recipients aged 16 to 24 developed myocarditis post-vaccination.
At the same time, both Sweden and Norway advised people under 30 against receiving a COVID-19 vaccine due to the increased risk of heart inflammation.
Closer to home, the Florida Surgeon General also recommended against young men receiving a COVID-19 shot countering the CDC’s guidance.
While the CDC acknowledged the risk of myocarditis, the agency recommends that every person older than six months receive a COVID-19 vaccination.
The CDC claims that “the known risks of COVID-19 illness and its related, possibly severe complications, such as long-term health problems, hospitalization, and even death, far outweigh the potential risks of having a rare adverse reaction to vaccination, including the possible risk of myocarditis or pericarditis.”
Regardless of the outcomes of both Pfizer and Moderna’s studies, neither pharmaceutical company will face litigation for potential adverse effects.
After the Moderna and Pfizer shots were added to the Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program, both pharmaceutical companies are shielded from potential liability, as reported by The Dallas Express.