The Moderna coronavirus vaccine is up to four times more likely to cause inflammation of the heart muscle, a very rare side effect, than the Pfizer / BioNTech competing vaccine, according to a Danish study published in the British Medical Journal late Thursday and cited the Reuters agency.
The large study, which involved nearly 85% of Danes, or 4.9 million people aged 12 and over, investigated the link between mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines and cardiac inflammation, also known as myocarditis or myopicarditis. Previous studies in Israel and the United States have shown an increased risk of heart disease after vaccination with the mRNA vaccines developed by Pfizer / BioNTech and Moderna.
“The mRNA-1273 vaccine (Moderna vaccine) was associated with a significantly increased risk of myocarditis or myocardial infarction in the Danish population,” the study said. However, the overall risk of heart disease from vaccines, which are based on mRNA technology, is low, according to a study conducted by researchers at the Statens Institute in Denmark.
“Overall, the rate of myocarditis or myocardial infarction was about three to four times higher for the mRNA-1273 (Moderna) vaccine than for the BNT162b2 (Pfizer / BioNTech) vaccine,” the study said.
The researchers found only 1 case per 71,400 vaccinated with Pfizer / BioNTech and 1 case per 23,800 vaccinated with Moderna. Most of the cases were mild, the study said.
The Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine was only associated with a higher risk of heart disease in women, the study notes, in contrast to studies in Israel and the United States. The authors said the difference could be explained by the average age of the vaccinated population, the time between the first and second vaccinations, or because fewer Danes tested positive for COVID-19.
“Our findings do not generally overshadow the many benefits of vaccination,” study author Anders Hviid said in a statement. “We need to keep in mind that the alternative to COVID-19 infection may also pose a risk of inflammation in the heart muscle,” Hviid said.
reuters.com
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