A U.S. health advisory committee reviewed reports of myocarditis, a type of heart inflammation, occurring in some people after they received mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. The committee, called the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), looked at the available information about these cases.
The committee's main finding was that the benefits of getting vaccinated against COVID-19, such as preventing severe illness and death, are greater than the risk of developing this rare heart condition. Myocarditis was reported as a serious adverse event in some vaccine recipients, which is why the committee reviewed the data.
It is important to know that this is a summary of a committee's expert opinion based on reviewing reports, not the results of a new scientific study. The committee did not conduct its own research with patients. Readers should understand that vaccination decisions involve weighing known benefits against known, but rare, risks. This information reinforces current public health guidance that vaccination is recommended.
