Posts claim heart inflammation only occurs after COVID-19 vaccination

A preprint Oxford University study examined outcomes after Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination among children and adolescents in the U.K. The study found that incidents of heart inflammation (myocarditis and pericarditis) were only reported in vaccinated participants, leading vaccine opponents to falsely claim that heart inflammation only occurs after COVID-19 vaccination, not infection. 

Recommendation: Trending conversations about COVID-19 vaccines and heart inflammation provide an opportunity to circulate existing content and materials that address COVID-19 vaccine safety and prebunk false claims about the risk of heart inflammation after vaccination. Messaging may emphasize that previous research has shown that heart inflammation after COVID-19 vaccination is extremely rare, typically mild, and much less common than after COVID-19 infection. Ensuring that informational materials explain how COVID-19 vaccines help to protect against COVID-19-related heart complications—as well as severe illness, death, and long COVID—is recommended.