Myopericarditis in a Male Adolescent Following the Second Shot of COVID-19 Pfizer m-RNA Vaccine: Typical Example and Analysis of 110 Single Case Reports

Abstract

One of the most powerful weapons against COVID-19 is vaccines. After the worldwide spread of the disease, m-RNA vaccines were authorized not only in adult patients, but also in children and adolescents aged 12–18. Since then, alarming reports of cases of myocarditis and/or pericarditis have been noted, primarily involving males after the second vaccine shot. A typical example of myopericarditis occurring in an adolescent a few days after the second shot of an m-RNA vaccine is described here. An in-depth review of all 110 single case reports published up to July 2022 with related features and outcomes is also presented. This is the first extensive analysis focused solely on a significant number of single case reports, which have usually been excluded from systematic reviews and meta-analyses carried out in the field. The analysis presented here confirms that most cases occurred in males after the second injection of an m-RNA vaccine. Cases were mild and responsive to the usual medical treatment. What is newly reported is that not only adolescents, but also older people, especially females, were affected by this adverse event.

Keywords

• m-RNA vaccine
• COVID-19
• myocarditis
• pericarditis
• adverse event