Taiwan pauses second doses of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for older children due to myocarditis
In Taiwan, second doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine are being temporarily suspended for children between the ages of 12 and 17 due to concerns over the risk of myocarditis.
Chen Shih-chung, the head of Taiwan’s Central Epidemic Command Center, announced the news on Nov. 10. A final decision, he said, is expected in two weeks.
A new report from Taiwan’s Central News Agency detailed the ongoing situation. So far, the website reported, 1.1 million people between the ages of 12 and 17 have received their first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in Taiwan. Of that group, there have been 17 reported cases of myocarditis or pericarditis. Fourteen of those cases were seen in male patients.
Three additional cases of myocarditis or pericarditis were reported in men between the ages of 18 and 21, bringing the grand total to 20 cases. While 18 of those patients have already been discharged from the hospital, one is still currently hospitalized and another was never hospitalized.
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Michael has more than 18 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.