Israel’s Ministry of Health is investigating cases related to myocarditis (inflammation of the heart’s muscle), reported in a small group of people who have been immunized with COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer and BioNtech.
According to Channel 12, the unissued report of the ministry provided information about the Covid-19 vaccine’s side effects that increased concerns over a likely correlation between myocarditis cases and second dose of vaccine, especially in men under the age of 30.
Approximately 62 cases of myocarditis were reported in Israel, few days after receiving the vaccine, out of 5 million people who were vaccinated, according to the report. In addition to that, 56 of these reported cases emerged after the second dose administration, and men under the age of 30 were affected the most.
Nachman Ash, Israel’s pandemic response coordinator, told Reuters that an initial study indicated ‘tens of incidents’ of myocarditis in the vaccinated group of people mostly after the second shot.
“The Health Ministry is currently examining whether there is an excess in morbidity and whether it can be attributed to the vaccines,” Nachman Ash added. The ministry still has to make a decision.
In response to the latest development, Pfizer told Reuters that the company is in continuous contact with Israel’s Ministry of Health to evaluate its vaccine data.
Pfizer added: “Adverse events are regularly and thoroughly reviewed and we have not observed a higher rate of myocarditis than what would be expected in the general population. A causal link to the vaccine has not been established.
There is no evidence at this time to conclude that myocarditis is a risk associated with the use of the Pfizer/BioNtech Covid-19 vaccine.”
Currently, the vaccine has been administered to around 60% of 9.3 million people of Israel.
The vaccine proved to be highly efficient in avoiding Covid-19 associated symptoms and serious ailment, according to the country’s record.
Israel’s Health Ministry, BioNtech, and Pfizer published real-world data last month that showed a substantial reduction in incidents related to Covid-19 in wholly vaccinated individuals.
