Pfizer BioNTech (BNT162b2) and Moderna Spikevax (mRNA-1273) are the 2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccines that have been given approval for use, and as of March 20, 2022, more than 52 million doses of Pfizer and 22 million dosages of Moderna have actually been given in Canada, where this study was performed. Medical trials have revealed that the vaccines are safe, and tracking of vaccinated individuals has actually revealed that side impacts are minor and vanish on their own. Both vaccines have actually been associated with some uncommon but serious side effects, most notably myocarditis (swelling of the heart).
” Few population-based analyses have been performed to directly compare the safety of the 2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, which vary in essential ways that could impact safety,” said Naveed Janjua, MBBS, DrPH, lead author of an epidemiologist and the research study and the executive director of Data and Analytic Services at the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control. Temporality was ensured in the study design to limit the time studied in between vaccine dose and myocarditis/pericarditis medical diagnosis.
According to cardiologist Guy Witberg, the research study is reassuring for vaccine safety.
The study discovered that Moderna had greater rates of heart swelling than Pfizer, although the overall danger remained very low.
In comparison to the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, the Moderna Spikevax COVID-19 vaccine has a 2- to three-fold higher occurrence of myocarditis, pericarditis, or myopericarditis following a 2nd dosage; nevertheless, general cases of heart swelling with either vaccine are extremely unusual. Males under 40 who got the Moderna vaccine had the best occurrence of myocarditis, according to the research study, which, according to the researchers, may have effects for selecting certain vaccines for particular populations.
The findings were just recently published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Pfizer BioNTech (BNT162b2) and Moderna Spikevax (mRNA-1273) are the 2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccines that have been given approval for usage, and as of March 20, 2022, more than 52 million doses of Pfizer and 22 million doses of Moderna have been given in Canada, where this study was performed. Scientific trials have actually revealed that the vaccines are safe, and tracking of immunized individuals has actually revealed that adverse effects are small and disappear on their own. Nevertheless, both vaccines have actually been related to some uncommon but severe negative effects, most notably myocarditis (inflammation of the heart).
While several studies have been done on each vaccine, few have actually been done to directly compare the 2 mRNA vaccines security. The function of this research was to compare the risks of pericarditis, myocarditis, and myopericarditis connected with the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines.
Individuals in the study were 18 years old or older and had gotten two main dosages of either Pfizer or Moderna vaccine in British Columbia, Canada, with the second dosage in between Jan. 1, 2021, and Sept. 9, 2021. Individuals whose second or very first shots were administered outside of British Columbia or had a history of myocarditis or pericarditis within one year prior to the second dosage were left out.
Within 21 days of the 2nd dose, there were a total of 59 myocarditis cases (21 Pfizer and 31 Moderna) and 41 pericarditis cases (21 Pfizer and 20 Moderna). Scientists likewise looked at rates per million dosages and the rate was 35.6 cases per million for Moderna and 12.6 per million for Pfizer– a practically threefold increase after Moderna shots vs. Pfizer.
Rates of myocarditis and pericarditis were higher with the Moderna vaccine in both males and females between ages 18 and 39, with the greatest per million rates in males ages 18-29 after a second dosage of Moderna.
According to the authors, the findings support recommending particular populations receive specific vaccines to make the most of benefits and decrease adverse occasions.
” Few population-based analyses have been carried out to directly compare the safety of the 2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, which differ in crucial ways that could impact safety,” stated Naveed Janjua, MBBS, DrPH, lead author of an epidemiologist and the research study and the executive director of Data and Analytic Services at the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control., and the apparent higher risk of myocarditis following COVID-19 infection than with mRNA vaccination.”
Limitations of the research study include that it was observational, which restricts the ability to determine causality between vaccination and myocarditis or pericarditis. Temporality was ensured in the study style to restrict the time studied in between vaccine dose and myocarditis/pericarditis diagnosis. Likewise, the research study counted on hospital and emergency situation department go to data and might have missed out on some less severe cases.
Moderna]”.
Referrals: “Comparative Risk of Myocarditis/Pericarditis Following Second Doses of BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 Coronavirus Vaccines” by Zaeema Naveed, Julia Li, James Wilton, Michelle Spencer, Monika Naus, Héctor A. Velásquez García, Jeffrey C. Kwong, Caren Rose, Michael Otterstatter and Naveed Z. Janjua, 7 November 2022, Journal of the American College of Cardiology.DOI: 10.1016/ j.jacc.2022.08.799.
” A Tale of 2 mRNA Vaccines” by Guy Witberg and Ilan Richter, 7 November 2022, Journal of the American College of Cardiology.DOI: 10.1016/ j.jacc.2022.09.010.
The research study was funded by the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control and the Canadian Immunization Research Network (CIRN) through a grant from the general public Health Agency of Canada and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. This project was also supported by funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada through the Vaccine Surveillance Reference Group and the COVID-19 Immunity Task Force.
