Swedish health officials have now decided that a moratorium on giving the Moderna vaccine to anyone under 31 will be extended indefinitely, the U.K. Daily Mail reported. The pause on the Moderna shots had been scheduled to end on Dec. 1.
Finland, Iceland and Denmark have taken similar steps. Norway is encouraging men under 30 not to get the Moderna shot, but is not mandating it.
For months, the Moderna vaccine has been under scrutiny because of data that shows young men who receive it are at increased risk for myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, and pericarditis, an inflammation of the sac around the heart.
Rate of Myocarditis/pericarditis for young males in #Ontario after 2nd shot stands out above the rest. 1 in 5770-after 2nd shot in Males 18 to 24. Factoring in 12-17 age group:
1 in 6817- in males 12-24 after 2nd.Source:https://t.co/GCqNgpsQmJ #COVID19 #CovidVaccine #myocarditis pic.twitter.com/PKwQok6MxQ— Antony Robart (@AntonyRobart) October 18, 2021
The Daily Mail reported that one U.S. study that has not yet been peer-reviewed concluded that “young males under [age] 20 are up to six times more likely to develop myocarditis after contracting COVID-19 than those who have been vaccinated.”
The decision comes as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is putting Moderna’s plans for a shot aimed at the population from age 12 to 17 on hold due to concerns over risks of the ailments, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Although a federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention panel on Thursday approved boosters for the Moderna and Johnson & Johson vaccines, there were some cautions raised, according to CNBC.
Dr. Tom Shimabukuro said there is an increased risk of myocarditis and pericarditis with either the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine, in particular after the second dose of the vaccines.
According to the Daily Mail, the data indicated the risk was 13 times greater for those getting the Moderna vaccine than for those who got the Pfizer vaccine.
Rates of rare heart risks (myocarditis/pericarditis) among 18-39 year olds are higher for Moderna #covid19 vaccine than Pfizer/BioNTech’s, according to presentation just now from CDC advisory committee pic.twitter.com/B9rBYMsYWi
— Meg Tirrell (@megtirrell) October 21, 2021
Sweden’s Public Health Agency said the unpublished data linking the Moderna vaccine with the two conditions means there is “an increased risk of side effects such as inflammation of the heart muscle or the pericardium.”
“The risk of being affected is very small.”
That data has not been publicly released.
The FDA had addressed concern about the Pfizer vaccine in its statement giving it full authorization, saying that “the data demonstrate increased risks, particularly within the seven days following the second dose.”
What about Pfizer the risks are almost identical. Is science about to reassert itself? Let’s hope so. https://t.co/70ZQRWXQvf
— Dr Anthony Hinton (@TonyHinton2016) October 20, 2021
“The observed risk is higher among males under 40 years of age compared to females and older males. The observed risk is highest in males 12 through 17 years of age,” the FDA said.
The agency noted that “some individuals required intensive care support” and that long-term information about the risks is not yet available.
Story cited here.