Due to errors, a preprint study that was originally uploaded to MedRxiv and claimed that a COVID-19 vaccine posed a 1 out 1,000 chance of developing myocarditis has been removed.
According to Reuters, MedRxiv publishes studies that are not yet peer-reviewed.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.
Reuters reported that the study was retracted because of a mistake in calculation.
The number of COVID-19 vaccinations available in Ottawa was divided by the number incidences of myocarditis. This calculates the rate of inflammation of the heart muscle.
According to their calculations, myocarditis risk was 1 in 1000 or 0.1 percent.
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This miscalculation led to the study being withdrawn.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. Number of doses that were administered during the study period. Open Ottawa data was reviewed and we found that the number of doses administered over the study period 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 the vaccine and states that the risks associated with the COVID-19 vaccine far outweigh the benefits.
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