Outrage over study finding COVID-19 vaccines aren’t linked to sudden cardiac deaths

A new CDC study investigates the risk of sudden cardiac deaths in teens and young adults who received COVID-19 vaccines. The study found no link between the vaccines and sudden cardiac deaths. Vaccine opponents responded to scientific data that contradicts the false claims they have circulated for the last two years with increased conversation online. Many posts take issue with the CDC as a source and continue to falsely argue that cardiac deaths with clear non-vaccine-related causes must be vaccine-related. 

Recommendation: Posts falsely linking cardiac deaths to COVID-19 vaccines and conversations casting doubt on CDC research may cause patients to question the safety of COVID-19 vaccines. Talking points may emphasize that COVID-19 vaccines are safe. The CDC study assessed nearly 1,300 cardiac deaths and found one with an undetermined cause in which a potential link to vaccination could not be ruled out or confirmed. The two other cardiac deaths identified had non-vaccine-related causes. No studies, including global safety analyses of millions of vaccine recipients, have found any link between sudden cardiac death and COVID-19 vaccines. Across all age groups, the risk of heart complications after COVID-19 infection is far greater than after COVID-19 vaccination. That’s why the CDC recommends the updated COVID-19 vaccine for everyone 6 months and older. Staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccines prevents severe illness, hospitalization, death, long COVID, and COVID-19-related heart problems.