By Connor Boyd, Health And Science Editor for DailyMail.com, and Cassidy Morrison, Senior Health Reporter for DailyMail.com
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[HTML tags:
]Two FDA analyses flag potential health concerns related to Covid vaccines[HTML tags:
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[HTML tags:
]Two analyses conducted by the FDA have raised potential health concerns regarding the Covid vaccines. However, the FDA emphasizes that these links are not definitive and even if they are proven, the risks associated are extremely small. [HTML tags:
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[HTML tags:
]Possible link between Covid vaccine and stroke risk in combination with high-dose flu shot[HTML tags:
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[HTML tags:
]Health officials have stated that the Covid vaccine may be linked to a slight increase in stroke risk when administered alongside a high-dose flu shot. The FDA’s analysis found that this link was most apparent in adults over the age of 85 and only applied to the Pfizer and Moderna bivalent Covid booster vaccines. However, the FDA also suggests that the risk may be attributed solely to the flu vaccine and not related to the Covid shots. Nevertheless, the report acknowledges that the risk remains very low, with approximately three strokes or stroke-like events occurring for every 100,000 doses administered. In comparison, in 2022, the death rate from Covid among individuals over the age of 85 was 1,224 per 100,000. U.S. health experts emphasize that the benefits of vaccination outweigh the small associated risk. [HTML tags:
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[HTML tags:
]Increase in seizures after Covid vaccinations in children ages two to five[HTML tags:
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[HTML tags:
]Another analysis conducted by the FDA suggests a slight increase in the incidence of seizures among children ages two to five following Covid vaccinations. It should be noted that these papers were posted online recently and have not yet undergone peer review for publication in a scientific journal. However, experts in vaccine safety have praised the studies. Both analyses were observational, meaning they only demonstrate an association and not a causal link. Nevertheless, many scientists suggest that the inflammatory response triggered by vaccines may lead to physiological changes that could potentially result in strokes and seizures. [HTML tags:
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[HTML tags:
]Link between stroke risk and high-dose flu shots and Covid boosters[HTML tags:
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[HTML tags:
]In the first analysis, FDA officials examined medical claims from nearly 5.4 million individuals aged 65 and older enrolled in the Medicare program. The researchers specifically focused on the high-dose Fluzone seasonal flu shot, which is intended for seniors and provides four times the amount of flu protection compared to a regular shot. The study investigated the effects of receiving the Fluzone shot and the Moderna or Pfizer bivalent Covid booster on the same day, looking specifically at rates of non-hemorrhagic stroke (NHS) and transient ischemic attack (TIA), also known as a ‘mini-stroke’. Both types of stroke are caused by blood clots that obstruct blood flow to the brain. While the exact cause of the increased stroke risk associated with vaccines is yet to be determined, researchers suggest that the temporary rise in blood pressure following vaccination and the potential for abnormal immune responses contributing to inflammation may play a role. The analysis found that individuals who received a high-dose flu shot and the Moderna bivalent booster had a 35 percent increased risk of a mini-stroke, while those who received a flu shot and the Pfizer bivalent booster had a 20 percent increased risk. Additionally, a separate analysis of over 6.9 million seniors found that the flu shot alone increased the risk of stroke by approximately nine percent. However, researchers could not establish a statistically significant link between strokes and Covid boosters alone, suggesting that it may be the flu vaccine driving the risk. Nevertheless, the absolute risk of suffering a stroke following both a high-dose flu shot and a Pfizer or Moderna bivalent booster remains low. For every 100,000 doses administered, there were approximately 3.1 additional strokes reported for the Pfizer and flu shots, and 3.3 additional strokes reported for the flu and Moderna shots. It’s important to note that the risk of stroke following Covid infection is significantly higher than the risk after receiving a booster shot. A 2022 study reported that military veterans who survived a Covid infection had a 52 percent increased risk of suffering a stroke and a 49 percent increased risk of a mini-stroke. To mitigate risk, spacing out vaccines by a few weeks and administering them in separate arms rather than in the same upper arm are suggested as simple precautions. It is crucial to consider that the benefits of vaccination far outweigh the risk of severe illness and potential mortality, as stated by President Joe Biden, “I really believe this is why God gave us two arms – one for the flu shot and the other for the COVID shot.” [HTML tags:
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[HTML tags:
]Possible link between Covid vaccines and seizures in children ages two to five[HTML tags:
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[HTML tags:
]In the second FDA analysis, researchers found a tentative association between seizures in children ages two to five and older versions of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. However, caution is advised when interpreting these results, as seizures are frequently caused by fever, which can be induced by vaccination or infection. The researchers examined health data of over 4.1 million American children between the ages of six months and 17 years who received the vaccines up until April 2023. It’s important to note that these monovalent vaccines were eventually replaced by the updated bivalent varieties. Eight seizures were reported among children aged six months to five years in the CDC’s voluntary vaccine side effect reporting database. The analysis found a slightly higher seizure risk in children between the ages of two and five after receiving a Covid vaccination compared to the general population’s background seizure rates in 2020 when infectious disease rates were lower due to social distancing measures. However, this association disappeared when comparing the data to 2022 rates when infections among children were more prevalent. The study’s authors emphasize caution in interpreting the link between convulsions and shots, as febrile seizures can occur in young children for various reasons unrelated to vaccination. Most of the seizures reported were associated with fevers, which are a common side effect of many vaccines and indicate an immune response. Seizures triggered by fever are relatively common among infants and young children. Increased fever caused by infections such as the flu, Covid, and respiratory syncytial virus is known to lead to seizures. Despite these findings, the benefits of vaccination outweigh the known and potential risks of Covid infection. It’s important to note that millions of parents have chosen not to get their children vaccinated due to the relatively lower risk that younger individuals face compared to older adults and seniors. [HTML tags:
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