COVID-19 vaccines were found to cut the risk of heart failure by up to 55% and blood clots by up to 78% following COVID infection, according to a new study published in the British Medical Journal.
The positive health effects lasted for up to a year and were more pronounced right after getting vaccinated.
“While there has been concern about the risk of myocarditis and other thromboembolic events following vaccination, this analysis highlights that the risk of such complications is notably higher when it comes from the SARS-CoV-2 infection itself,” said Dr. John Brownstein, chief innovation officer at Boston Children’s Hospital and an ABC News Medical contributor.
Denise Fractious, 68, of Pasadena, receives her COVID vaccine during a flu and COVID-19 vaccination clinic at Kaiser Permanente Pasadena on Oct. 12, 2023, in Pasadena, Calif.
Francine Orr/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images, FILE
Researchers looked at over 20 million people in Europe; half of them were vaccinated against the virus, and half were not. Vaccines included in the research were Moderna, Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson.
During the period of study, researchers looked at the original strain of the virus and the Delta variant.
COVID vaccines reduced the risk of blood clots in the veins by 78% within a month of obtaining the dose, according to the researchers’ findings. It also reduced the risk of blood clots in the arteries by 47% and heart failure by 55%, the study found.
In this Feb. 8, 2022, file photo, a Jackson, Miss., resident receives a Pfizer booster shot from a nurse at a vaccination site.
Rogelio V. Solis/AP, FILE
Researchers said COVID vaccines reduced the risk of a blood clot in the vein by 47%, a blood clot in an artery by 28% and heart failure by 39% in the six-month period after vaccination.
“As we consider future vaccine policy, these results add a vital piece to the puzzle, showing that COVID-19 vaccines are a key tool in reducing the risk of long-term health issues following infection,” Brownstein said.
Adults over the age of 65 are now able to get an additional updated COVID-19 vaccine to protect against severe hospitalization and death, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A recent study has provided promising evidence that COVID-19 vaccines can significantly reduce the risk of heart failure and blood clots in individuals who have been infected with the virus. The study, conducted by a team of researchers at a leading medical institution, analyzed data from thousands of patients who had contracted COVID-19 and compared outcomes between those who had received the vaccine and those who had not.
The findings of the study revealed that individuals who had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 were significantly less likely to develop heart failure or blood clots following infection with the virus. In fact, the researchers found that the risk of heart failure was reduced by up to 50% in vaccinated individuals, while the risk of blood clots was reduced by up to 40%.
These results are particularly significant given the growing concern over the long-term health effects of COVID-19, including the potential for heart complications and blood clots. By demonstrating the protective effects of COVID-19 vaccines against these serious complications, this study provides further evidence of the importance of vaccination in preventing severe illness and reducing the burden on healthcare systems.
The researchers involved in the study emphasized the importance of vaccination as a key tool in controlling the spread of COVID-19 and protecting individuals from its potentially devastating consequences. They also highlighted the need for continued research to better understand the long-term effects of COVID-19 and the role of vaccines in mitigating these risks.
As vaccination efforts continue around the world, studies like this one serve as a reminder of the critical role that vaccines play in protecting public health and preventing serious complications from COVID-19. By getting vaccinated, individuals can not only protect themselves from severe illness but also contribute to the collective effort to end the pandemic and return to a sense of normalcy.
