Preprint studies showed that one in 1,000 COVID-19-vaccinated recipients could develop myocarditis.
After an error in calculation, the study was withdrawn.
The COVID-19 injection is safe and you are less likely to develop myocarditis if you get it.
Insider Healthcare: Get the latest news and analysis in healthcare Loading Click to sign up for marketing emails from Insider and other partners. You also agree to our Terms of Service & Privacy Policy
Due to errors in calculations, a preprint study published on MedRxiv claiming that a COVID-19 vaccine vaccination could increase the risk of myocarditis by 1 in 1,000 has been pulled.
According to Reuters, MedRxiv publishes studies that are not yet peer-reviewed.
The University of Ottawa Heart Institute researchers published the study on September 16. The COVID-19 vaccine was widely promoted by the public.
Two articles based on the now-defunct study were published to spread the notion that the COVID-19 vaccination isn't safe. Insider/Facebook/The Expositions
Reuters reported that the study was retracted because of a mistake in calculation.
Myocarditis, which is the inflammation of the heart muscle, was calculated by multiplying the number COVID-19 vaccinations in Ottawa by how many cases of the condition.
According to their calculations, myocarditis risk was one in 1,000 or 0.1%.
The study's numbers were incorrect. The number of vaccines administered by the authors was 25 times lower than it actually was.
Initial reports stated that 32,379 vaccines had been delivered. In reality, it was 854,930.
This miscalculation led to the study being withdrawn. The researchers stated that the reported incidence was greatly exaggerated by an incorrectly small numerator (i.e. the number of doses administered during the study's time period). Open Ottawa data was reviewed and we found that the number of doses administered had been significantly underestimated.
They added that they wanted to prevent any misleading of colleagues, the general public or press by removing the paper due to incorrect incidence data.
The University of Ottawa Heart Institute issued an apology for misinformation that was spread in the wake of the study.
Using data from the Vaccine Safety Datalink, the CDC advised Reuters that other studies have shown that there was not "a significant association between myocarditis/pericarditis and mRNA vaccines," when looking at all age groups, although they did caution "an association between mRNA vaccines and myocarditis/pericarditis in younger individuals," particularly higher among young males.
A preprint study of the prevalence and risk factors for myocarditis among young men revealed that COVID-19 is six times more common than the vaccine.
The CDC reiterates the importance of getting the vaccine. They state that the risks associated with the COVID-19 vaccine far outweigh the benefits.
