COVID anti-vaxxers: The dangerous myth of heart damage from vaccines

Opponents of vaccination shout loudly about rare side effects such as myocarditis. But they leave out the most important thing: A COVID-19 infection causes far greater damage to the heart. Studies show that vaccinations significantly reduce heart attacks and strokes.

A new study in England with data from 46 million people, published on July 31, 2024, proves that the benefits of vaccination far outweigh the risks.

The study was conducted by several researchers including Samantha Ip, Teri-Louise North, Fatemeh Torabi, Yangfan Li, Hoda Abbasizanjani, Ashley Akbari, Elsie Horne, Rachel Denholm, Spencer Keene, Spiros Denaxas, Amitava Banerjee, Kamlesh Khunti, Cathie Sudlow, William N. Whiteley, Jonathan AC Sterne, Angela M. Wood and Venexia Walker. These researchers are part of the CVD-COVID-UK/COVID-IMPACT consortium and the Longitudinal Health and Wellbeing COVID-19 National Core Study. The study was published in the journal Nature Communications.

Let's get the facts out there: Vaccinations reduce the risk of heart damage

Opponents of vaccinations repeatedly try to present rare side effects such as myocarditis and pericarditis as standard. They ignore that COVID-19 itself is far worse for the heart. Any risk of vaccination is dwarfed by its benefits: it significantly reduces heart attacks, strokes and other heart damage. The vaccines drastically reduce the risk of serious illness. Heart attacks and strokes were generally less common in vaccinated people – regardless of which vaccine or combination they received.

Anti-vaxxers ignore facts

There are always opponents of vaccination who claim that COVID vaccines are harmful to the heart. These theses are simply wrong! Science has now provided ample evidence that vaccination is safe and effective protection. COVID-19 infection without vaccination poses a major risk of serious heart problems. The facts speak for themselves: vaccination is the key to reducing the risks!

Research shows: Vaccinations save lives

The research is clear: vaccination not only protects against COVID-19, but also against its serious consequences for the cardiovascular system. Infection can trigger heart attacks, strokes and other thrombotic events. Vaccines offer reliable protection against this and significantly reduce the risk of such complications. This is the real scandal: the distortion of facts that costs human lives!

Results of the latest study

The latest study examined the effects of the first, second and booster doses of various vaccines. The results speak for themselves: the incidence of thrombotic events such as heart attacks and strokes was significantly lower after the vaccinations. Rare side effects only occurred sporadically and were more than made up for by the great benefits. This proves again that the vaccination is safe and saves lives.

Note: The conduct of this study was based on a well-defined analysis plan that was established in advance and made publicly available. All details about the methods used, variables and the analysis code are published transparently on the GitHub platform to ensure the traceability and verifiability of the research results. Those interested can view the full analysis plan and related resources at the following link: https://github.com/BHFDSC/CCU002_06

Studies show: vaccination protects the heart

One of the most comprehensive studies on this topic to date clearly shows that COVID vaccines significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular events. This study analyzed data from over 45 million adults in England. They prove that the frequency of heart attacks and strokes was significantly lower after each dose of vaccination - both in comparison to unvaccinated people and at times before vaccination. That's a huge difference!

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The image shows a graphic that helps us understand how safe the COVID-19 vaccines are, especially when it comes to heart problems. It compares what happens to people after vaccination compared to those who were not vaccinated.

In the graph there are three main lines for different types of heart problems:

1. Compound Arterial Events – Here we look at heart attacks and strokes together.
2. Acute Heart Attack – These are the specific numbers just for heart attacks.
3. Ischemic Stroke – These are the specific numbers just for strokes.

For each of these problems, the graphic shows what it looks like after the first, second and booster vaccination. Each dose has its own little graphic that tells us whether the vaccination increases or reduces the risk of these problems.

The different colors in the graphic represent different types of vaccines and combinations that people have received. If the line and dots are below “1,” it means the vaccination reduced the risk of heart problems. If it is higher, the risk would be increased - but we hardly see that here.

Overall, the graph shows that vaccination keeps the risk of heart problems the same or even reduces it, especially after the first and second doses. There is a little more uncertainty with the booster dose, shown by wider bars, but the result is similar.

In short, the graphic shows us that the COVID-19 vaccinations are safe and help reduce the risk of serious heart problems.

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Summary of the most important aspects

Study results and their significance
The study analyzes the effect of COVID-19 vaccination on cardiovascular events using data from around 46 million adults in England. It shows that the incidence of both arterial and venous thrombotic events is generally lower after vaccination than without vaccination. These results highlight the importance of vaccination in the prevention of serious cardiovascular events.

Special features of the booster cans
A specific focus is on the booster cans. The study looks at the effectiveness and safety of the boosters compared to previous vaccine doses and highlights that the risk of major cardiovascular events is also reduced, although there are some rare side effects such as myocarditis and pericarditis, particularly with mRNA vaccines.

Comprehensive data source and methodological precision
The use of large and detailed health datasets from NHS England enables precise analysis of vaccination impact. Methods such as Cox regression are used to determine reliable and adjusted hazard ratios that provide a clear picture of the risk reduction from vaccination.

Subgroup analyzes to check the consistency of vaccination effects
Conducting subgroup analyzes examines whether the positive effects of vaccination are consistent across different demographic and clinical groups. These analyzes are critical to understanding whether certain populations may respond differently to vaccination.

Discussion on long-term safety and future vaccination recommendations
The study not only provides insights into the short- and medium-term benefits of COVID-19 vaccination, but also discusses long-term safety and makes recommendations for future vaccination programs. This discussion will help increase public confidence in vaccination and make informed decisions about future health strategies.

These aspects are essential to fully reflect the scope and impact of the study results and should be considered in any comprehensive report on the study. They increase understanding of how vaccination not only reduces the individual risk of severe COVID-19 consequences, but also makes an important contribution to public health and the prevention of serious cardiovascular diseases.

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questions and answers

1. Why do opponents of vaccination claim that vaccination is dangerous for the heart?
Anti-vaxxers single out rare side effects and inflate them to stoke fear. But they ignore the extensive evidence that COVID-19 itself is far more dangerous to the heart. The vaccines are effective at reducing the risk of serious heart problems, and the evidence supports this finding. Scientific studies show that the risk of cardiovascular disease is significantly reduced after vaccination. But opponents of vaccination prefer to rely on disinformation instead of evidence-based facts.

2. How safe are COVID-19 vaccines for the heart?
COVID-19 vaccines are very safe for the heart. Research shows that vaccination significantly reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Rare side effects such as myocarditis are very rare and occur much less frequently than heart problems following a COVID-19 infection. A large study using data from 46 million English people has shown that vaccination significantly reduces the risk of serious cardiovascular events. Vaccination is therefore one of the most effective measures to protect the heart.

3. Are the risks of vaccination really that low?
Yes, the risks of vaccination are extremely low compared to the risks of COVID-19 infection. While anti-vaxxers try to exaggerate rare side effects, studies show that the benefits of vaccination far outweigh the risks. Heart attacks, strokes and other thrombotic events are significantly less common in vaccinated people. The vaccination is safe and offers excellent protection against COVID-19 and its serious consequences.

4. What role does vaccination play in reducing cardiovascular disease?
Vaccination plays a crucial role in reducing cardiovascular disease. Not only does it protect against COVID-19 infection, but it also reduces the risk of serious heart problems caused by the virus. Studies show that the incidence of heart attacks and strokes is significantly lower after vaccination. Vaccination is a crucial factor in protecting the heart and ensuring long-term health.

5. What does the latest study say about the safety of the COVID-19 vaccines?
The latest study confirms the safety of the COVID-19 vaccines. With data from over 46 million people, it shows that the vaccines significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. While rare side effects such as myocarditis may occur in isolated cases, these are negligible compared to the benefits of vaccination. The study proves that vaccination is not only safe, but also a crucial measure to protect the heart and save lives.

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Frequent objections from anti-vaccination activists and scientific rebuttals

1. Bias by pharmaceutical companies

Argument: The study could be influenced by pharmaceutical companies that benefit financially from marketing the vaccines.
Answer: The researchers in this study are part of prestigious academic and public health institutions. The study was published in a peer-reviewed journal, meaning other experts reviewed the methods and results. In addition, the data sources are publicly accessible and the analysis plan was transparently published on GitHub.

2. Rare side effects are ignored

Argument: The study minimizes the importance of rare but serious side effects such as myocarditis.
Answer: The study recognizes and gives importance to the rare side effects, but shows that these events occur much less frequently than the heart problems that can be caused by COVID-19. The data shows that the benefits of vaccination in preventing major cardiovascular events outweigh the risks.

3. Incomplete data

Argument: The study may not have taken into account important variables that could influence the result, such as previous illnesses of the participants.
Answer: The study has a large data base of 46 million people and uses advanced statistical methods to control for a variety of confounders, including demographics and pre-existing medical conditions. This helps ensure an accurate picture of vaccination effects.

4. Short-term study results

Argument: The results may only reflect short-term effects and do not take into account long-term health problems.
Answer: While it is important to collect long-term data, the study provides important insights into the impact of COVID-19 vaccines on cardiovascular risk over the observed period. Long-term studies continue to be necessary and are being conducted to complement these findings.

5. Distrust of official health data

Argument: The health data used could be manipulated or inaccurate to support a pro-vaccination agenda.
Answer: The data for this study comes from reliable and verified sources such as NHS England, which meet rigorous data protection and data accuracy standards. The large sample size and detailed methodology increase the reliability of the results.

These arguments and responses can help keep discussions informed and factual and reinforce the importance of science-based decisions in public health.

Conclusion

The COVID-19 vaccination is an important protection for the heart. Opponents of vaccination deliberately ignore the facts and conceal the great benefits of vaccination. Scientific studies show that vaccination significantly reduces the risk of heart attacks, strokes and other heart problems. The benefits of vaccination far outweigh the risks, and the latest research clearly confirms this. It's time to debunk the myths of anti-vaxxers and spread the truth about the effectiveness of vaccination. The protection of vaccination is real and it saves lives. Don't let misinformation mislead you, but act wisely and responsibly.

Source:
Study: Cohort study of cardiovascular safety of different COVID-19 vaccination doses among 46 million adults in England
Authors: Samantha Ip et al.
Published in: Nature Communications, Springer Nature
Publication date: July 31, 2024
License: This work is published under the Creative Commons CC BY License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, as long as the original work is properly cited .

Article image: Freepik

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