Health Care — Study details COVID shot risks

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View Online Health Care Health Care The Big Story  COVID vaccine study reaffirms slight risk of adverse side effects COVID-19 vaccines that have been proven to prevent long-term illness, hospitalization and death were linked to small increases in conditions like myocarditis and Guillain-Barré syndrome, according to the largest global vaccine study yet. © The Associated Press / Sholten Singer, The Herald-Dispatch More than 13.5 billion doses of COVID vaccines have been administered globally over the past three years.    The study published in the journal Vaccine found a small percentage of the 99 million vaccinated individuals across eight countries analyzed experienced a higher risk of adverse events.   The report specifically looked at adverse events after administering the Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca vaccines.    Researchers looked for 13 specific conditions. They found 190 cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome, which typically occurs after an infection but has been linked to some vaccines. They also found 69 cases of a type of blood clot that occurs in the brain.    Both mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna were associated with instances of myocarditis, inflammation of the heart muscle, which the study found consistently occurred more than was expected after the first, second and third doses.    COVID-19 itself can also cause side effects that affect the heart, including myocarditis.     While the observed side effects of the shots occurred more than anticipated, the number represents a tiny percentage of the millions of people overall who received the jabs, giving a clearer picture of the potential risk versus clinical benefit.     Researchers stressed that the "safety signals identified in this study should be evaluated in the context of their rarity, severity, and clinical relevance."    Still, the study is likely to provoke additional largely partisan fighting over the vaccines. Researchers have noted the pandemic and associated partisanship has led to an increase in overall vaccine hesitancy among Americans, with troubling public health consequences. Welcome to The Hill's Health Care newsletter, we're Nathaniel Weixel and Joseph Choi — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health. Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here. Essential Reads  How policy will be impacting the health care sector this week and beyond: Alabama Supreme Court rules frozen embryos are 'children' Alabama’s Supreme Court has ruled that frozen embryos are children under state law and subject to legislation dealing with the wrongful death of a minor, stating that it “applies to all unborn children, regardless of their location.” The court issued this majority decision in a lawsuit brought forth by a group of in vitro fertilization (IVF) patients whose frozen embryos were destroyed in December 2020 when …  Full Story UN agency halting food deliveries to northern Gaza, citing increasing chaos The United Nations’s World Food Program (WFP) said Tuesday it is pausing deliveries to northern Gaza due to the inability to ensure the safety and security of its staff, a move likely to compound starvation amid Israel’s war on the Palestinian militant group Hamas. "The decision to pause deliveries to the north of the Gaza Strip has not been taken lightly, as we know it means the situation there will deteriorate …  Full Story 1 in 6 children malnourished in northern Gaza: UN A growing number of children in Gaza are “acutely malnourished” and isolated in the northern part of the territory as Israel pushes forward with expanding its military operations in the region, according to a study by UNICEF. The report, published this week by the Global Nutrition Cluster — an aid partnership led by UNICEF — found 1 in 6 children younger than 2 years old in northern Gaza are malnourished, with an …  Full Story In Other News  Branch out with a different read: College baseball player appears in game with prosthetic leg after boating accident GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) — It was a moment to remember. Historic, too.  In the bottom of the eighth inning of Friday's season opener for East Carolina University, sophomore Parker Byrd was called on to pinch-hit. Full Story Around the Nation  Local and state headlines on health care: Fertility clinics could be 'shutting their doors' after Alabama Supreme Court decision (Al.com)  'It's all preventable': Measles cases at South Florida school concern pediatricians (NBC Miami)  Georgia House leaders signal Medicaid expansion is off the table in 2024 (WABE)  What We're Reading  Health news we've flagged from other outlets: The powerful constraints on medical care in Catholic hospitals across America (KFF Health News)  More than half the world faces high measles risk, WHO says (Reuters)  Obamacare plans don't have to cover weight loss drugs. The government is considering changing that (Stat)  What Others are Reading  Most read stories on The Hill right now: Supreme Court turns away House GOP lawmakers' appeal over mask rule violations  The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to revive a lawsuit from three House Republicans after their pay was docked for not complying with a pandemic-era … Read more Kevin O'Leary says he will no longer invest in 'loser' New York after Trump verdict "Shark Tank" investor Kevin O'Leary ripped into what he called "loser" New York and vowed to no longer invest in the state, when asked about a New … Read more   You're all caught up. See you tomorrow!  Check out The Hill's Health Care page for the latest coverage. Like this newsletter? Take a moment to view our other topical products here 📩 Privacy Policy  |  Manage Subscriptions  |  Unsubscribe  1625 K Street NW, 9th Floor, Washington, DC 20006 Copyright © 1998 - 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved.

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