After hundreds of heart muscle infections were reported in Israel and the USA after a corona vaccination with Biontech, the WHO now considers a connection to be likely.
In April, Israel reported several dozen cases of myocarditis after a corona vaccination with the Biontech / Pfizer vaccine *, as * echo24.de reported at the time. In the USA, too, over 300 cases of inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis) or the pericardium (pericarditis) have been reported. Israel’s Ministry of Health and German experts did not consider the data to be of concern at the time and could not confirm a link between vaccination and heart disease. Now the World Health Organization (WHO) has commented on the heart problems and considers a connection to be likely.
Israeli media reported an analysis in April that found 62 cases of myocarditis occurred, mostly among young men aged 18 to 30. Of these, two patients – a man and a woman – died. According to data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), a total of 5.2 of the nine million inhabitants in Israel have received a second vaccination since the vaccination campaign began – this corresponds to 59.9 percent of the Israeli population. In the country, vaccination was carried out almost exclusively with the Biontech / Pfizer preparation, as reported by the German Press Agency (dpa) .
Heart muscle inflammation after corona vaccination – connection is likely
A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health announced in April that a team of experts is monitoring all side effects of the corona vaccinations and publishing regular reports. The analysis cited in the media was not published by the ministry. “It does not show a clear increase in mortality from vaccination, nor is it certain that there has been an increase in the number of myocarditis compared to the same period last year.”
Now the WHO sees a “probable connection” between corona vaccinations with an mRNA vaccine * and myocarditis, which are “very rare”, as reported by ntv.
In the USA, according to the US health authorities (CDC), 323 cases of myocarditis have occurred after a corona vaccination with an mRNA vaccine in patients under 30 years of age. There is a suspicion that Biontech / Pfizer and Moderna vaccines may occasionally cause myocarditis or pericarditis in young people.
The 323 cases of myocarditis or pericarditis, however, are compared to more than 50 million vaccine doses that had been administered to 12 to 29 year-olds until then. Overall, according to the WHO, the benefits of vaccination clearly outweigh the risks. The Biontech vaccine is also proven to protect against the delta mutant * – the vaccine will therefore continue to be of great benefit in the future.
Heart problems after corona vaccination – Pfizer comments on the possible side effects
Vaccine maker Pfizer announced in April that the company was aware of the reports in Israel. “We have not observed a rate of myocarditis higher than would be expected in the general population,” the statement said. “A causal connection with the vaccination was not established. There is currently no evidence that there is any risk of myocarditis associated with the Biontech / Pfizer vaccine. “
What is inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis)?
Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart muscle, which can have different causes. Many heart muscle inflammations are symptom-free. Myocarditis usually follows an infection of the respiratory or gastrointestinal tract with viruses, but other germs or an autoimmune disease can also lead to an inflammation of the heart.
Myocarditis can cause life-threatening arrhythmias and lead to sudden cardiac death. If myocarditis is discovered early, therapeutic measures can be taken.
According to the German cardiologist Dirk Westermannn, the occurrence of heart muscle inflammation is estimated at around 10 to 20 cases per 100,000 inhabitants per year, as reported by the dpa. The disease usually occurs more frequently in younger patients. Virus infections are among the triggers.
Heart problems after vaccinations are not uncommon
“Basically, there is a connection between vaccinations and the occurrence of myocardial inflammation,” says Westermann. However, this does not apply to mRNA vaccines like those from Biontech / Pfizer, but is mainly known from the smallpox vaccination. “After mRNA vaccinations, very few cases of myocarditis have become known in Spain and the USA,” he says. “Here, too, a clear causality has not yet been proven.” * Echo24.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA.
List of rubric lists: © Swen Pförtner / dpa
