The risk of developing vaccine-related myocarditis, pericarditis or myopericarditis remains very low, researchers wrote. 

A new analysis of more than 137,000 patients found that the early months of the pandemic were associated with some concerning trends for hypertension patients. 

American Heart Association President Michelle A. Albert, MD, urged physicians to seek out patients who may have not received medical care since the start of the pandemic. These patients could face an increased risk of cardiac complications.

Recent research has revealed that the medium and long-term impact of an acute illness may be associated with cardiovascular events, such as venous thromboembolism, stroke and myocardial infarction.

Vaccine-related myocarditis was seen in approximately 0.00005% of children between the ages of 12 and 15. All cases were mild, and the median length of stay at the hospital was three days. 

Nirmatrelvir-ritonavir, sold by Pfizer under the name Paxlovid, is commonly prescribed to treat COVID-19. When treating some heart patients, however, physicians may want to consider an alternative approach.

The new meta-analysis, published in Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine, included data from 58 million patients. “We hope our findings will help mitigate vaccine hesitancy and increase vaccine uptake," one researcher said. 

A well-known cardiologist who once fully supported COVID-19 vaccines is now saying he thinks they have done more harm than good. Online, as one might expect, people on both sides of this particular debate have been quick to respond.