Multiple Heart Issues Confirmed Following COVID-19 Vaccination

During Connecticut Governor Ned Lamon's video meeting today, it was reported 'at least eighteen teens, and young adults have shown symptoms of heart problems after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, acting health commissioner Dr. Deirdre S. Gifford announced on May 24, 2021.

Dr. Gifford said all but one of the young adults hospitalized for signs of heart problems had been released. Four of those young residents were hospitalized at Yale-New Haven Health and three at Connecticut Children's, reported NBC TV.

"All of the cases that were reported to us were hospitalized, the vast majority for a couple of days," Dr. Gifford said at the governor's regular Monday COVID-19 news conference. "One individual that we’re aware of is still hospitalized. The other 17 have been sent home, and they’re doing fine."

Beginning May 13th, individuals 12 years and older became eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in Connecticut. The state is now receiving vaccine supplies from Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson (Janssen).

During the U.S. CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Technical (VaST) Work Group meeting on May 17, 2021, included several presentations on myocarditis following mRNA vaccination from the Department of Defense, the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, and Vaccine Safety Datalink.

There were also brief updates from the Veteran’s Administration and the Clinical Immunization Safety Assessment groups about their plans for future investigation of myocarditis. 

'Most cases appear to be mild, and follow-up of cases is ongoing.'

VaST concluded that there are relatively few reports of myocarditis to date. These cases seem to occur predominantly in young people, in males, following dose 2 than dose 1, and typically within 4 days after vaccination.

The CDC stated 'safety monitoring systems, rates of myocarditis reports in the window following COVID-19 vaccination have not differed from expected baseline rates. However, VaST members felt that information about reports of myocarditis should be communicated to providers.'