True Links Between COVID-19 Vaccines and Adverse Events Can Be Difficult to Define

Substantial variability characterizes the baseline incidence of potential adverse effects of COVID-19 vaccines.

Concerns have been raised about cerebral venous sinus thrombosis and thrombotic thrombocytopenia syndrome (associated with adenovirus-based COVID-19 vaccines) and potential excess risk for myocarditis (associated with mRNA vaccines). Defining a true association between vaccines and these rare adverse events will depend on an accurately informed understanding of their baseline incidence. How straightforward will this be? Researchers assessed the relative yearly incidence of 15 prespecified adverse events of special interest (AESIs; e.g., stroke, myocardial infarction, deep venous thrombosis, immune thrombocytopenia) from 2017 to 2019 using 13 databases from 8 countries. The study population included >126,000,000 individuals with >227,000,000…

Reviewing Author

Richard T. Ellison III, MD

Disclosures

Consult/Advisory BoardAcurx Pharmaceuticals, LLC;

Grant/Research SupportDoctors Company Foundation, Massachusetts Department of Public Health

Richard T. Ellison III, MD

Disclosures

Consult/Advisory BoardAcurx Pharmaceuticals, LLC;

Grant/Research SupportDoctors Company Foundation, Massachusetts Department of Public Health

True Links Between COVID-19 Vaccines and Adverse Events Can Be Difficult to Define

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Reviewing Author