French Health Authorities Agree that People Under 30 Should Not Get Moderna COVID-19 Shot
Posted on 11/10/2021
Pfizer Inc. appears to be winning the COVID mRNA shot war both internationally and on the U.S. home front. Paris-based Haute Autorité de santé (HAS), also known as the French National Authority for Health, recommended people under 30 be given Pfizer’s Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine when available instead of Moderna’s Spikevax jab. HAS sees that the Moderna jab carried comparatively higher risks of heart-related problems. Moderna Inc applied for European authorization of its COVID-19 vaccine in children aged 6 to 11 years. HAS’ decision came after regulators in several other countries, including Canada, Finland, and Sweden, embraced a more defensive stance on Spikevax over heart-related safety concerns affecting younger people. The first countries that banned the Moderna shot for people under age 30 were Sweden and Denmark. Moderna disclosed it had applied to the European Medicines Agency for use of a 50 micrograms dose of the vaccine in children, half the strength used in the adult vaccinations.
Myocarditis is the inflammation of the heart muscle, with symptoms including chest pain, shortness of breath, and feelings of having an abnormal heartbeat. According to the Mayo Clinic, severe myocarditis weakens your heart so that the rest of your body doesn’t get enough blood. Clots can form in your heart, leading to a stroke or heart attack. Certain serious arrhythmias can cause your heart to stop beating (sudden cardiac arrest). It’s deadly if not treated immediately.
In late October 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced it would delay its decision on administration of the Moderna vaccine to adolescents, citing concerns the shot may lead to a heightened risk of a rare heart condition.