Higher risk of heart inflammation in Sweden may dampen Mother’s demand for Covid-19 vaccine, World News & Top Stories
SINGAPORE’s Maternal Spikevax Covid-19 vaccine has been approved for use in 75 countries, with delivery agreements for 1.7 billion doses already signed with the United States, Japan, China, the United Kingdom and the European Union, in addition to the global Covax vaccine division facility.
In the future, however, the demand for Moderna’s shots may be reduced after the Swedish health authorities’ results of increased risk of inflammation in the heart muscle (myocarditis) and inflammation of the mucous membrane outside the heart (pericarditis) among adolescents and young adults who have been vaccinated with the mRNA vaccine.
According to the Swedish Public Health Agency, the risk seemed to be particularly linked to the second dose of the Moderna vaccine and was more widespread among young men and boys in the weeks just after the second bite.
The cardiovascular side effects usually go away on their own, but those affected should be evaluated by a doctor, the agency added.
The risk of side effects after vaccination is not unique to Moderna’s vaccine. Pfizer-BioNTech’s Covid-19 vaccine has also been shown to cause inflammation in the heart muscle or mucosa outside the heart.
However, the risk of health complications due to the Mother’s shot, even though it was still small, turned out to be greater than for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
To date, Sweden and Denmark are the only countries that have paused the use of Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine for younger age groups over the possible health complications.
Approximately 81,000 people in the affected age group under 30 had already received a first Modern job in Sweden, but they will not be offered a second. The temporary suspension is valid until 1 December until a review is carried out.
In Denmark, Modern Shots have been suspended for people under 18.
Norway had already recommended Pfizer-BioNTech’s Cominarty vaccine for minors and reiterated this advice on Wednesday.
At the same time, Finland was expected to announce its own decision on vaccination of minors with Modernas Spikevax on Thursday (October 7).
On October 1, Canadian health officials had highlighted data suggesting that the risk of heart inflammation was higher after Moderna-jabs, compared with Pfizer-BioNTech shots. It may be a precursor to restricting the use of minors and young adults in the North American country.