COVID-19 vaccines might give extra benefits besides protecting against the virus. Studies show they may also lower the risk of heart issues and blood clots from SARS-CoV-2.
Researchers from different countries looked at data on over 10 million people who got vaccinated and over 10 million who didn’t, across the UK, Spain, and Estonia. They closely examined the information to reach their findings.
Upon adjusting for variables such as age, gender, and pre-existing ailments, it was discerned that vaccinated individuals exhibited a markedly diminished propensity for cardiac and clot-related complications subsequent to contracting COVID-19, spanning up to one year, according to Science Alert.
According to Núria Mercadé-Besora, a data scientist from the University of Oxford in the UK, “Our findings likely mirror the efficacy of vaccines in curtailing infection and mitigating the risk of severe COVID-19.”
“These outcomes could serve to bolster COVID-19 immunization uptake among hesitant individuals apprehensive about potential vaccine adverse effects,” Mercadé-Besora adds.
If you don’t get vaccinated against COVID-19, you are at higher risk. You have a 78% increased chance of getting a blood clot in your veins. There’s also a 47% higher risk of a blocked artery. And your odds of heart failure go up by 55%. This applies within the first month after infection.
These risks go down over time but don’t disappear entirely. Even after 6-12 months, you still face a 50% greater chance of vein clots. Artery blockages are 38% more likely. And heart failure risk remains 48% higher than in vaccinated people. While antecedent studies have yielded analogous conclusions, this inquiry stands out as one of the most exhaustive investigations to date in terms of sample size and monitoring duration, the reports by Science Alert mentioned.
Thromboembolic events, culminating in strokes and cardiac failure, are recognized to be substantially more prevalent following a COVID-19 infection. While causation remains unclear, the research intimates that vaccination against the disease also mitigates the risk of subsequent complications.
The team acknowledges the complexity of the situation, albeit COVID-19 vaccines have demonstrated a predominantly favorable safety and efficacy profile, with benefits outweighing potential drawbacks. Nonetheless, they advocate for further research to scrutinize the protective efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines in greater depth.
“The protective efficacy of vaccination aligns with documented reductions in disease severity, yet additional research is imperative to elucidate the impact of booster vaccinations across diverse demographics,” Mercadé-Besora asserted, as per Science Alert.
The findings have been disseminated in the journal Heart.