The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has added a warning to indicate a low risk of heart inflammation after receiving Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna Covid-19 vaccine shots.

Particularly after second dose

FDA stated in a June 25 press release that there is an "increased risks" of myocarditis and pericarditis following a person's vaccination, particularly after the second dose and with onset of symptoms within a few days after the vaccination.

Myocarditis is the inflammation of the heart muscle. Pericarditis is the inflammation of the outer lining of the heart.

FDA added that vaccine recipients are advised to seek medical attention immediately if they experience chest pain, shortness of breath, or feelings of having a fast-beating, fluttering, or pounding heart after vaccination.

Low risk

Acting FDA commissioner Janet Woodcock said that the risk of myocarditis and pericarditis "appears to be very low" given the number of vaccine doses that have been administered in the U.S.

Woodcock added:

"The benefits of Covid-19 vaccination continue to outweigh the risks, given the risk of Covid-19 diseases and related, potentially severe, complications."

As part of our commitment to vigilant safety monitoring of #COVID19 vaccines, FDA updated the public on its ongoing evaluation of adverse event reports of myocarditis & pericarditis following vaccination with Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines. https://t.co/xI8nzp1GEm pic.twitter.com/FlmaICfpQY

— U.S. FDA (@US_FDA) June 26, 2021

Mostly 30 years old and below

According to CNBC, the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) first hypothesised a "likely association" between the vaccines and heart inflammation a few days before.

As of June 23, CNBC reported more than 1,200 cases of myocarditis or pericarditis among 300 million who have received mRNA vaccine shots.

They are mostly 30 years old and under, more men are affected.

The U.S. FDA and CDC added that they are monitoring the reports, collecting more information, and will follow-up to assess longer-term outcomes over several months.

Avoid strenuous exercise after vaccination

Both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna Covid-19 vaccines are used in Singapore.

The expert committee on the Covid-19 vaccine advised 0n June 11 that vaccinated persons, including adolescents and younger men, should avoid strenuous physical activity for one week after their second dose as a precaution.

The expert committee also said that the benefits of receiving the Covid-19 vaccine outweigh the risks of vaccination:

"Most cases are mild, recover without the need for significant intervention and do not suffer any long-term effects, although very rarely, severe cases may result in damage to the heart muscles."

Therefore, it remains crucial to be vaccinated against Covid-19.

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Top image via Unsplash.