For young Aussies, the road to getting vaccinated in recent weeks has been a long and bumpy one. When the vaccine first began rolling out, we were told that people under the age of 40 were advised not to take the AstraZeneca vaccine because of the veryyy small chance of it causing a blood clot in your brain.
Then, last week, Prime Minister Scott Morrison came out of nowhere to claim, against health advice, that young Aussies could speak with their GPs about getting that same vaccine. Adding to our vaccine anxiety, the Queensland Government then dogpiled on Morrison’s claim for nearly an entire press conference.
Now, we’re hearing reports that Pfizer may have its own side effect. But, don’t panic. Like AstraZeneca, it’s not that common of an issue. Let me explain.
According to the European Union’s European Medicines Agency, there is a possible link between very rare cases of heart inflammation and the Pfizer vaccine among young men, namely: myocarditis and pericarditis.
Myocarditis is when your heart muscle is inflamed whereas pericarditis is when the sac of fluid your heart sits in is inflamed. Symptoms of the two can vary but often they include breathlessness, a forceful heartbeat that may be irregular, and chest pain. If you feel any of these symptoms, you must seek medical attention immediately.
Okay, now that sounds really scary, right? Well, here’s some reassuring news: it’s extremely rare. Like, one in a 0.0000016 percent chance of getting it.
In an in-depth analysis of people who experienced myocarditis and pericarditis symptoms and received a dose of Pfizer, the committee found that of the 177 million doses in Europe as of the 31st of May, only 145 and 138 people exhibited symptoms. Idk about you, but that’s bloody brilliant.
“The Committee concluded that the cases primarily occurred within 14 days after vaccination, more often after the second dose and in younger adult men,” the report said.
“In five cases that occurred in the EEA, people died. They were either of advanced age or had concomitant diseases. Available data suggest that the course of myocarditis and pericarditis following vaccination is similar to the typical course of these conditions, usually improving with rest or treatment.”
The EMA added: “The chance of these conditions occurring is very low, but you should be aware of the symptoms so that you can get prompt medical treatment to help recovery and avoid complications.”
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency in the UK added: “These reports are extremely rare, and the events are typically mild with individuals usually recovering within a short time with standard treatment and rest.”
The study ultimately came to the conclusion that the benefits of the Pfizer vaccine overrule its extremely rare risks. Obviously, like AstraZeneca, it’s all about knowing the risks and making an educated decision accordingly, but the sooner we all get vaccinated, the better our life will be.
If you’re still concerned about taking either Pfizer or AstraZeneca, you can speak with your GP for more information.
