A new trend in heart disease is emerging in younger people, particularly athletes, thought to be a result of mRNA COVID-19 vaccination. The South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety reported 492 deaths in young people directly after vaccination, which TrialSite reported on in September. In the same month, TrialSite reported on a report from Public Health Ontario (PHO) on aggregating COVID-19 vaccination adverse events following vaccination (AEFI) across Ontario, with young persons aged 24 and under accounting for 80% of the total AEFIs. Now, further reports are emerging on cardiac events in young, vaccinated people around the world. Are the reports accurate? If does this change the risk-benefit analyses used for aggressive universal vaccination programs?
The German newspaper Berliner Zeitung has published an investigation into why numerous professional and amateur soccer players have recently collapsed. The report noted 24 recent incidents of footballers who had cardiac problems or collapsed on the field, some of which responded to cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and others resulting in death. Cardiac arrest was shown to be the most common cause. As well as the soccer players on the field, non-players such as coaches and referees counted for eight of the occurrences.
The Covid World, a website that gives a voice to victims and survivors of adverse effects of COVID-19 vaccines, lists eleven world-class athletes who died or were severely injured after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. TrialSite cannot verify the veracity of all the claims, but mounting data points trigger concern. A baseball player from Japan and an archery athlete from Malaysia died in separate situations, weeks after receiving COVID-19 vaccinations. The majority of the instances include sportsmen who suffer cardiac problems after receiving the COVID-19 vaccination, such as pericarditis and myocarditis. In another four cases, blood clots and other health issues occurred.
Peter Schirmacher of the University of Heidelberg in Germany argues that total vaccination-related deaths are underreported. He believes that the vaccination is responsible for 30-40% of the 40 autopsies of persons who died within two weeks of receiving a COVID-19 vaccination in his research, as previously reported on TrialSite. COVID vaccinations that are based on genes induce the body to create spike protein, which is toxic and can cause inflammation and blood clots in all major organs, including the brain, heart, lungs, and ovaries, for up to 48 hours. In the same research, 42% of the 400,000 adverse events reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) in relation to COVID-19 vaccinations had at least one cardiovascular incident.
A Link Between Heart Problems and mRNA Vaccine
For a while the World Health Organization (WHO) failed to emphasize heart issues as an adverse event of special interest for mRNA vaccines, however the global health agency updated https://www.who.int/news/item/27-10-2021-gacvs-statement-myocarditis-pericarditis-covid-19-mrna-vaccines-updated its position on October 27 highlighting the “rare” but relevant topic. WHO previously identified anaphylaxis in association with mRNA vaccines. The AstraZeneca and Janssen COVID-19 adenovirus vector vaccines have been linked to a highly rare and atypical clotting syndrome with thromboembolic events (blood clots) and thrombocytopenia (low blood platelet count). Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome is the name given to this illness (TTS).
However, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease control (CDC), found a “likely association” between the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines and reported cases of heart inflammation. Cases of myocarditis have been reported to the VAERS following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna), particularly in male teenagers and young adults, more often after the second dose and usually within a few days of vaccination.
Between January and April 2021, patients in the US Military Health System who developed myocarditis after receiving COVID-19 vaccine were investigated in a case series. Following receipt of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccination, myocarditis developed in previously healthy military patients with identical clinical symptoms. After a second vaccine injection, the number of male military members with myocarditis cases was higher than projected.
However, more monitoring and study of this adverse occurrence after vaccination is required. Another study linked the vaccination to an increased risk of myocarditis, with 1 to 5 events per 100,000 persons. After SARS-CoV-2 infection, the risk of this potentially serious adverse event, as well as many other serious adverse events, was significantly raised.
Dr. Peter McCullough, internist and cardiologist in Dallas TX has indicated that the standard of care for the growing number of cases with vaccine-induced myocarditis includes 3-6 months of no physical activity. The well-known cardiologist shared with TrialSite: “I am concerned that athletes are having subclinical myocarditis in the weeks to months after vaccination and are pushing through the symptoms given the incentives of sports contracts and we know a consequence of strenuous exertion in the setting of myocarditis is cardiac death.”
Heart Disease Trend Emerging in Younger People
According to statistics reported by researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the coronavirus vaccinations developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna may have caused heart problems in over 1,200 Americans, including over 500 under the age of 30.
Some young individuals who have had COVID-19, those who have been vaccinated against the virus, and student athletes are showing signs of cardiac disease, according to health professionals. In a joint statement released by the International Coalition of Medicines Regulatory Authorities and WHO, incidences of thromboembolic events with thrombocytopenia following vaccination were mostly recorded in younger people rather than the elderly. In the same source stated that even public health officials in several countries advise against administering the AstraZeneca vaccine to younger individuals.
When reviewing VAERS data, there are several limitations. For starters, anyone can contribute information willingly, therefore reports range in quality and thoroughness. Second, because VAERS only receives reports for a small fraction of real adverse events, one of the key possibilities is underreporting. Finally, VAERS accepts all reports without deciding if the vaccine was to blame. VAERS will accept the report without requiring confirmation that the occurrence was caused by the vaccination.
Impact of Vaccine on Athletic Performance
Vaccinated patients who have never been exposed to SARS-CoV-2 may have elevated physiological demands for at least 2 to 3 weeks after receiving their second dose of the mRNA vaccine. In the post-vaccine study that included 18 healthy adults (nine females and nine men) ranging in age from 24 to 43 years old, oxygen uptake, CO2 production, respiratory exchange ratio, ventilation, heart rate, serum noradrenaline, and rating of perceived exertion were all considerably higher. After vaccination, exercise adrenaline levels were considerably lower, and serum lactate levels were trending lower, suggesting that the body was not adapting well to exercise conditions.
Unfortunately, because the total number of cases of COVID-19 is unknown, it is difficult to estimate how likely someone is to die if they become infected. The fact that not everyone with COVID-19 is tested is one of the major reasons behind this. However, vaccine-related myocarditis was found in 1.0 per 100 000 people who received at least one COVID-19 vaccination, while pericarditis was found in 1.8 per 100 000 people who received at least one COVID-19 vaccination.
‘Still Safe’, say the Authorities
Despite these data, health authorities continue to downplay any concern, aggressively recommending the vaccinations. In September, TrialSite reported that the South Korean government had only acknowledged two post-vaccination deaths as being related to the vaccines; other governments have followed suit, quickly assuring the public that the deaths are not linked to the COVID-19 vaccine.
The American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM) assembled an expert panel to discuss the current data, knowledge gaps, and recommendations around COVID vaccination in athletes. They concluded that COVID vaccination should be included during the pre-participation physical examination for athletes at all levels of training and competition, according to a document released in November 2021.
Although there should be caution in the event of rare side effects such as myocarditis following COVID-19 vaccination, the CDC continues to recommend that everyone aged 12 and above get vaccinated against COVID-19, on the basis of benefits outweighing the risks of a rare adverse reaction to vaccination, such as myocarditis or pericarditis.