Risk of developing myocarditis higher for unvaccinated, CDC says
The benefits of getting a COVID-19 vaccine outweigh the risk of getting myocarditis from the vaccine, CDC experts say, adding that it's even more apparent now that cases are spiking among young people.
The risk of getting myocarditis - inflammation from the heart muscle – from the virus is much higher than getting it from a vaccine, scientists said at a CDC advisory panel Monday, pointing to new data.
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The CDC estimates that the risk of myocarditis for the highest risk group -- young males age 16 to 17 -- is about 73 cases per million doses of the Pfizer vaccine.
The public health agency also estimates that 56,700 cases of COVID-19 would be prevented in that same age group for every million vaccines.
In addition, the risk of myocarditis after actually getting COVID-19 is six to 34 times higher than it is from getting a vaccine.
-ABC News’ Cheyenne Haslett