A comprehensive study published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health has scrutinized health records for nearly every child in the UK, covering almost 14 million individuals under 18, from 2020 to 2022.

The findings indicate a minor yet noteworthy risk of children developing serious heart issues, such as myocarditis or pericarditis, within six months following a COVID-19 infection.

Interestingly, the study also revealed that the likelihood of experiencing rare heart complications after receiving the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is “substantially lower” than after a viral infection.

Dr. Michelle Scoullar, a pediatrician with the Burnet Institute, stated, “While the risk persists post-vaccination, it is about half of what it is due to an acute COVID-19 infection.”

Dr. Scoullar further emphasized the study’s significance, noting, “Repeated COVID-19 infections are common among children, and this research underscores that such infections pose health risks. The study highlights how vaccination significantly reduces these risks, even for those with mild infections.”

“That’s an important reassurance for parents weighing up the benefits and risks.”

Professor Raina MacIntyre, an emerging infectious disease expert at the University of NSW, said the research only further emphasised that mRNA vaccines are safe to use.

“This study confirms what many other studies have shown – that COVID-19 mRNA vaccines are safe and effective in reducing the risks of serious complications of COVID infection,” she said. 

“No vaccine or drug is 100 per cent safe, as all have side effects, but they go through a rigorous process to ensure that the benefits far outweigh the risks. 

“This study and other studies show the risk-benefit clearly favours vaccines for children. The risk of myocarditis is low – 1-3 per 100,000 children. 

“There is a much higher risk of myocarditis after COVID infection… the COVID mRNA vaccines are actually protective of the heart, because of the enormous damage the infection can cause to the heart.”

In Australia, COVID-19 vaccinations aren’t recommended for children unless they are immunocompromised or have risk factors that increase their chance of contracting severe illness after infection.

But following the study, MacIntyre said health authorities should change their stance.

“That we deny vaccination to children is inexplicable… our children are not eligible for vaccination at all, and vaccination is not even recommended wholeheartedly even for young adults,” she said. 

“Long COVID is another crippling impact on everyone, especially kids and working-age adults… I hope this study will inform vaccine policy for children.”

Mater Health Services director of infectious diseases Professor Paul Griffin agreed.

“COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for children remain controversial, due to many different and conflicting positions regarding the need to vaccinate particularly children with no associated risk factors,” he said. 

“While more severe disease from COVID-19 infection is known to be more associated with advanced age and comorbidities, this study provides further evidence both of the significant complications of COVID-19 infection in children and the relative safety of the vaccines that therefore could, or perhaps should, be more widely recommended to reduce these risks.”

Please note the information in this story is general in nature. Please always consult your GP or health professional for advice that is tailored to your specific health concerns.