On 5/26/21, we sent a health alert about potential myocarditis and/or pericarditis following mRNA COVID-19 vaccinations. These events remain rare and COVID-19 vaccination continues to be recommended as an overall safe and effective measure to protect individuals and prevent transmission of SARS-CoV-2, including the current circulating variants.
DOH has provided an update on the status of their work with the CDC on case investigations in Washington State, which is found here: WA_DOH_Myocarditis_Pericarditis_Reporting_06.11.2021.
In addition, FAIR Health has posted a White Paper, a study of claims for post-acute COVID-19 events, including cardiac inflammation, which provides an indirect comparison of the relative risk of potential post-vaccine cardiac inflammation to the risk from COVID-19 itself.
The CDC provided an update on COVID-19 safety to the FDA Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee on 6/10/21 which included a review of data to that date on myocarditis and pericarditis following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination.
Please continue to report events associated chronologically to COVID-19 vaccination to VAERS, whether or not you think there is a causal relationship.
- Consider a diagnosis of myocarditis or pericarditis in any evaluation of chest pain following COVID-19 vaccination
- Inquire about recent COVID-19 vaccination in any patient presenting with symptoms consistent with myocarditis or pericarditis (chest pain or pressure, or shortness of breath, EKG abnormalities); and
- Report such cases promptly to the U.S. Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS: https://vaers.hhs.gov/reportevent.html).
References:
WCHD Health Alert 5/26/2021- Myocarditis Or Pericarditis After COVID-19 Vaccination
http://providers.whatcomcounty.org/2021/05/5-26-2021-myocarditis-or-pericarditis-after-covid-19-vaccination/
Presentation to the FDA Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee, Myocarditis and pericarditis following mRNA vaccination (slides 13-29), 6/10/21, by Tom Shimabukuro, MD, MPH, MBA,
Vaccine Safety Team, CDC COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force
https://www.fda.gov/media/150054/download
A Detailed Study of Patients with Long-Haul COVID: An Analysis of Private Healthcare Claims, A FAIR Health While Paper, June 15, 2021
https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/media2.fairhealth.org/whitepaper/asset/A%20Detailed%20Study%20of%20Patients%20with%20Long-Haul%20COVID–An%20Analysis%20of%20Private%20Healthcare%20Claims–A%20FAIR%20Health%20White%20Paper.pdf