An expanded review of data from the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System and a self-reporting smartphone app called v-safe supports the CDC's recommendation that children 12 and older continue to receive the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine.
Of the 8.9 million U.S. adolescents who had Pfizer shots by mid-July, only 9,200 reported issues, and those mainly involved non-serious ailments like fever, fatigue, dizziness, fainting and headache.
Less than one-tenth reported serious adverse events, and just over 4% had hallmarks of myocarditis.
Only 56 adolescents were hospitalized.
None of the 14 deaths reviewed involved myocarditis.
In May, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration expanded the Pfizer vaccine’s Emergency Use Authorization to include children 12 and older.
By June, reports were trickling in describing cases of the inflammatory heart disease myocarditis, mainly among males who received their second dose.
Last month, the CDC endorsed continuing the Pfizer shots, saying vaccination benefits outweigh myocarditis risks.
