Meanwhile, public health officials have also said that COVID-19 infections alone commonly lead to instances of myocarditis and pericarditis and that, in those cases, damage to the heart is frequently severe.
The CDC study estimated that for every million second doses of vaccine administered to boys ages 12 to 17, vaccination would prevent, on average, 5,700 COVID-19 cases, 215 COVID-19 hospitalizations, 71 ICU admissions, and two deaths. By comparison, there would be an expected 56 to 69 cases of myocarditis. The risks were found to be significantly lower for girls.
"The CDC continues to recommend that children aged 12 years and older get vaccinated for COVID-19," CDC spokesperson Martha Sharan said. "The known risks of COVID-19 illness and its related, possibly severe complications, such as long-term health problems, hospitalization, and even death, far outweigh the potential risks of having a rare adverse reaction to vaccination, including the possible risk of myocarditis or pericarditis."