When we turn the page from late 2019 to 2021, we cannot forget the world pandemic that none of us ever imagined would occur in our lifetimes. I am certain that none of us wish for this history to repeat itself in the future. The pandemic not only inflicted significant damage to the economy but also claimed countless lives, instilling fear in the hearts of people worldwide. For over a year, we endured quarantine measures, gradually adapting to the “NEW NORMAL.”
However, amidst these challenges, hope persisted. Researchers and scientists diligently worked towards finding a solution—a beacon of relief emerged from COVID-19 vaccines. While these vaccines were developed to liberate us from the confines of quarantine, conspiracy theories surrounding their safety emerged. Reports of sudden cardiac deaths (SCDs) following COVID-19 vaccination, particularly affecting young adults, circulated widely. But are these claims substantiated by evidence? Let us delve deeper into this issue to uncover the truth.
COVID-19 Vaccines
Let us first understand what types of COVID-19 vaccines are available and how these vaccines work.
Type I: mRNA Vaccine
- This type of vaccine instructs your cells to produce a harmless piece of the S protein seen on the surface of the COVID-19 virus.
- After vaccination, your cells create S protein pieces, triggering your body to produce antibodies. These antibodies fight the virus if you later become infected.
- Examples include the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines.
Type II: Vector Vaccine
- Vector vaccines make use of a modified version of a different virus (viral vector) to deliver material from the COVID-19 virus into your cells.
- Your cells then produce copies of the COVID-19 S protein, prompting your immune system to create antibodies.
- Examples: The Janssen/Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine is a vector vaccine, and the AstraZeneca and University of Oxford COVID-19 vaccines (Covishield in India).
Type III: Protein Subunit Vaccine
- Subunit vaccines contain harmless S proteins from the virus, stimulating your immune system.
- Upon recognizing the S proteins, your immune system generates antibodies to fight the virus if you encounter it later.
- The Novavax COVID-19 vaccine falls under this category.
COVID-19 Vaccines
In the United States, the following COVID-19 vaccines are available:
- Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is approved for individuals aged 6 months and older.
- Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is approved for individuals aged 6 months and older.
- Novavax COVID-19 vaccine is approved for individuals aged 12 years and older.
Availability of COVID-19 Vaccines in India
- Covaxin: An inactivated virus vaccine developed by Bharat Biotech.
- Covishield: A viral vector vaccine developed by the Serum Institute of India, based on the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine.
- Sputnik V: Another viral vector vaccine developed by the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology in Russia.
These vaccines are administered to eligible individuals based on age and other criteria determined by health authorities.
SCD vs COVID-19 Vaccines
Conspiracy theorists claim that people die of sudden cardiac arrest immediately after COVID-19 vaccination, alleging that these vaccines are bioweapons developed to depopulate the world.
However, extensive research suggests otherwise: There is no causal relationship between COVID-19 vaccination and sudden cardiac death (SCD) among vaccinated individuals. These vaccines are developed with the utmost safety and efficacy in mind.
So, let us decode the facts from fiction and support the research findings through evidence from various studies.
American Study
While studying the occurrence of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in young individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic and post-vaccination, researchers gathered data from northeast Italy covering the years 2018 to 2022, focusing on those aged 1 to 40 years.
Their investigation revealed no significant rise in SCD rates either during the pandemic or after COVID-19 vaccination. Upon examining autopsy results, they identified underlying conditions like coronary atherosclerosis and cardiomyopathy as the primary causes of SCD, with myocarditis contributing to only a small fraction of cases. Interestingly, some individuals who experienced SCD had received COVID-19 vaccines. However, no evidence of vaccine-related inflammation was found in these cases. Nonetheless, a few individuals did suffer SCD within 30 days of vaccination. Some had previously contracted the SARS-CoV-2 virus, while others tested positive for COVID-19 after vaccination.
In summary, the study concluded that COVID-19 vaccination did not increase the risk of SCD among young people. The causes of SCD remained consistent with pre-pandemic patterns, and there was no significant uptick in myocarditis cases.
India Research Study
Indian researchers, led by the ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research), found no evidence linking COVID-19 vaccination to unexplained sudden deaths among adults aged 18 to 45. Risk factors such as family history of sudden death, COVID-19 hospitalization, binge drinking, and intense physical activity were identified. The study analyzed 29,171 sudden deaths, concluding that COVID-19 vaccination was not associated with sudden death.
Zero effects?
Do these research studies imply that COVID-19 vaccines have Zero effect on heart health?
A few case studies were reported during the pandemic regarding the COVID-19 vaccines and SCD in younger adults. However, these occurrences were later identified as rare; in most cases, patients recovered soon afterward.
Reported Case Studies (2022)
Rare cases of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) have been reported following administration of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines in the UK, listed as very rare side effects. The Novavax vaccine has also been associated with rare instances of myocarditis observed during clinical trials.
According to data from the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (as of 23 November 2022), there have been reports of myocarditis and pericarditis following the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, though the occurrences are rare. Specifically, for every million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, there were 10 reports of myocarditis and 6 reports of pericarditis. For the Moderna vaccine, there were 14 myocarditis and 8 reports of pericarditis per million doses.
These reports of myocarditis are more common in young males aged 18 to 29 years after the second vaccine dose. However, most affected individuals experienced mild symptoms and recovered without medical intervention. Myocarditis can lead to heart scarring, detectable through cardiac MRI, with a small risk of causing life-threatening arrhythmias in the future. Consequently, affected individuals are typically offered long-term follow-up and monitoring.
Research indicates that COVID-19 infection is more likely to cause myocarditis than vaccination. Vaccinated individuals have a significantly lower risk of experiencing severe COVID-19 complications compared to those who are unvaccinated.
Decoding Long-term Side Effects
What about the long-term side effects of COVID-19 vaccination?
Despite these findings, numerous unanswered questions remain regarding myocarditis associated with COVID-19 vaccines, particularly concerning potential long-term effects.
Ongoing researches
Backed by organizations like the British Heart Foundation (BHF), researchers are actively investigating COVID-19 infection and vaccination-related myocarditis. For instance:
- Professor John Greenwood’s project aims to assess heart muscle damage and recovery in COVID-19 patients hospitalized for six months.
- A large UK study involving BHF researchers highlighted a higher risk of myocarditis post-COVID-19 infection compared to post-vaccination.
- Another study by BHF researchers in Glasgow found that one in eight COVID-19 hospitalized patients later developed myocarditis, indicating broader health implications beyond heart inflammation.
These ongoing studies aim to shed further light on the relationship between COVID-19, vaccination, and myocarditis, providing valuable insights into managing and mitigating potential risks.
The Conclusion: Understanding the Risk VS Benefits
The true death toll of COVID-19 from 2020 untill now is estimated to be 7 million, according to the cumulative data from the World Health Organization (WHO). Keeping the death counts in mind, everyone should understand the need for COVID-19 vaccines, as COVID-19 causes more cardiovascular complications than the vaccines themselves, as supported by studies. So, when weighing the risks versus benefits of COVID-19 vaccination, it is crucial to consider the overwhelming evidence supporting vaccine safety and effectiveness. While no medical intervention is without risk, the benefits of vaccination in preventing COVID-19 far outweigh the rare occurrence of adverse effects.
Reference:
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/different-types-of-covid-19-vaccines/art-20506465
- https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/columns/slate/all-you-wanted-to-know-about/article35285648.ece
- https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/news/coronavirus-and-your-health/coronavirus-vaccine-your-questions-answered/myocarditis-and-covid-19-vaccines-should-you-be-worried
- https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.123.066270
- https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/cumulative-covid-deaths-region?time=earliest..latest
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/375768544_Factors_associated_with_unexplained_sudden_deaths_among_adults_aged_18-45_years_in_India-_A_multicentric_matched_case-control_study
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9133727/