In a recent report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Thursday, it has been revealed that there is no evidence to suggest that mRNA Covid vaccines cause fatal cardiac arrest or other deadly heart problems in teens and young adults. The report aims to address the concerns raised by anti-vaccination groups in the United States who have blamed the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for fatal heart problems in young athletes.

One prominent example of vaccine misinformation involves Damar Hamlin, a 26-year-old Buffalo Bills safety, who collapsed on the field during "Monday Night Football" in 2023 due to cardiac arrest. Fortunately, Hamlin was resuscitated and eventually recovered. The study co-author, Dr. Paul Cieslak, from the Oregon Health Authority's public health division, highlighted that comments were made implying a vaccine-related cause for Hamlin's collapse. The report seeks to provide clarity on this issue.

The findings of the report were based on the analysis of nearly 1,300 death certificates of Oregon residents aged 16 to 30 who died from any heart condition or unknown reasons between June 1, 2021, and Dec. 31, 2022. During this period, approximately 1 million teens and young adults in the state had received a Covid vaccine. The analysis focused specifically on individuals who received an mRNA Covid vaccine from Pfizer or Moderna and died within 100 days of vaccination.

Of the 40 deaths that occurred among people who received an mRNA Covid vaccine, three deaths occurred within the specified time frame. Two of these deaths were attributed to pre-existing chronic health conditions. The cause of the third death was recorded as an "undetermined natural cause." Although toxicology tests came back negative for alcohol, cannabis, methamphetamine, or other illicit substances, the medical examiner could neither confirm nor exclude Covid vaccination as the cause of death. However, none of the death certificates attributed the fatalities to the vaccines.

While the report cannot definitively establish whether the vaccine caused the third death, it is crucial to note that 30 people died from Covid during the same time frame, the majority of whom were not vaccinated. Dr. Cieslak emphasized the importance of evaluating risks and benefits, pointing out that the data clearly demonstrates the higher risk of death from Covid itself compared to any potential vaccine-related risks.

Dr. Leslie Cooper, the chair of the cardiology department at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, who was not involved in the study, commended the researchers for their thorough analysis. He stated that the 100-day time frame chosen for the study was a generous one, aimed at capturing any possible cardiac death following vaccination. Cooper further highlighted that the risk of sudden death in young adults after vaccination is significantly lower than the risk of sudden cardiac death from all causes.

Cardiac arrest, which occurs when the heart stops beating and pumping blood to the rest of the body, should not be confused with a heart attack or myocarditis - an inflammation of the heart muscle. The causes of cardiac arrest in individuals under 35 are often unclear and can be attributed to genetic defects or heart malfunctions.

Dr. Ofer Levy, the director of the Precision Vaccines Program at Boston Children's Hospital, stated that no vaccine has ever been definitively linked to sudden cardiac death. While mRNA vaccines have been associated with a small risk of myocarditis, it is generally milder than what is typically observed with myocarditis from Covid infection, and most individuals fully recover within a few days.

The findings from this CDC report provide further evidence that there is no reason to believe that mRNA Covid vaccines cause fatal heart problems in teens and young adults. The report reinforces the safety and effectiveness of these vaccines in preventing severe illness and death from Covid-19. As vaccination efforts continue worldwide, it is important to rely on credible sources and scientific evidence to make informed decisions regarding public health.