Compared to the potential risks of COVID-19 infection in kids, myocarditis appears to be quite rare. In fact, children are more at risk of myocarditis after multisystem inflammatory syndrome, a serious illness from COVID-19 infection.
That is why the
American Academy of Pediatrics recommends COVID-19 vaccination for
all kids age 6 months and older who do not have contraindications. Your child should get the COVID-19 vaccine that is
authorized for their age.
What causes myocarditis?
Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart muscle. It happens when the body's immune system reacts to an infection or some other trigger. In more than half of cases, no cause is identified. Symptoms can include feelings of
abnormal heart rhythms, shortness of breath, or
chest pain.
Very rarely, myocarditis also has occurred in some people who have received the vaccine. In most of these people, symptoms began within a few days following receipt of the second dose of vaccine. The chance of having this occur is very low.
In the
clinical trials studying the vaccine in kids 12 to 17 years, a small number of adolescents and young adults experienced mild cases of myocarditis after getting the COVID-19 vaccine. Most got better on their own or with minimal treatment and rest. And in the clinical trials of more than 3,000 children age 5 to 11, there were no reports of myocarditis from the vaccine.
The reports of myocarditis after COVID-19 vaccination were seen:
mostly in adolescents and young-adult males, especially those 16 years of age and older,
more often in males than females,
more often following dose 2 than dose 1, and
typically within 4 days after vaccination.
What we do know: COVID-19 vaccines save lives
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will continue to study the vaccine for these younger children to see if any potential link appears. This kind of ongoing monitoring is standard with all new vaccines to make sure they are safe.
Especially with the more contagious delta and delta plus variants of COVID-19 now circulating, the risks of being unvaccinated and becoming ill with COVID-19 are far greater than any rare side effects from the vaccines. Thousands of children have been hospitalized, and hundreds have died after being infected with COVID-19. Some children who have recovered still experience lingering symptoms. In fact, becoming infected with COVID-19 itself is much more likely to cause myocarditis than the vaccine.
Remember
COVID-19 vaccines are proven to be very effective at preventing severe illness and are truly lifesaving. If you have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to talk with your pediatrician.
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