The AHA today joined the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other national health care and public health organizations in encouraging COVID-19 vaccination for everyone age 12 and older who is eligible.

“Today, the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) met to discuss the latest data on reports of mild cases of inflammation of the heart muscle and surrounding tissue called myocarditis and pericarditis following COVID-19 vaccination among younger people,” the statement notes. “The facts are clear: this is an extremely rare side effect, and only an exceedingly small number of people will experience it after vaccination. Importantly, for the young people who do, most cases are mild, and individuals recover often on their own or with minimal treatment. In addition, we know that myocarditis and pericarditis are much more common if you get COVID-19, and the risks to the heart from COVID-19 infection can be more severe.”

Separately, the Food and Drug Administration today told ACIP that it was moving quickly to adjust the language on its emergency use authorization fact sheets for the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to note a likely association in rare cases of myocarditis and pericarditis in vaccine recipients.
 

Related News Articles

Headline
The Senate narrowly passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1) on July 1 by a 50-50 tally, with Vice President J.D. Vance casting the tie-breaking vote.…
Headline
The AHA June 29 sent a letter to senators urging them to amend the budget reconciliation bill before its final passage in the Senate. The Senate version of the…
Chairperson's File
Public
Advocacy is a core part of the work of the AHA, protecting and sustaining what hospitals and health systems need to truly care for our communities. We often…
Perspective
In the next few days, Senate Republican leaders plan to unveil and vote on their updated reconciliation bill, which, as currently constructed, would have far-…
Headline
The AHA today commented to House and Senate appropriations committee leaders on funding for health care programs in the fiscal year 2026 appropriations bill.…
Headline
Coalition ad links decisions on Medicaid cuts by Congress to impacts on hospitalsA new television and digital advertisement launched today by the Coalition to…