Can COVID-19 Vaccines Hurt Our Bodies?

Some people worry that COVID-19 vaccines might cause problems like heart issues or make it hard to have babies. But a new report says that while some vaccines could cause heart swelling, they likely don’t make it tough to have babies or cause other issues.

A group called the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine looked into these worries after being asked by a health organization. They studied lots of info about possible problems with COVID-19 vaccines that made people unsure about getting them. They found that heart swelling, called myocarditis, can happen rarely, especially in younger guys after their second shot. But most people get better quickly with medicine.

The report also says there’s no good evidence that these vaccines cause other rare problems like Guillain-Barré syndrome, which is when your body’s defense system attacks your nerves, or Bell’s palsy, which makes part of your face suddenly weak. They also found no link to blood clots or heart attacks.

But for some other issues, like headaches or sudden death, the report says there’s not enough info to say for sure if the vaccines are to blame.

One doctor who worked on the report said that just because they found some problems, it doesn’t mean they happen a lot. Vaccines are usually safe, and these problems are rare.

The report also looked at a different COVID-19 vaccine called Johnson & Johnson. It might cause blood clots or Guillain-Barré syndrome, but these are also very rare. This vaccine was paused for a bit because of the blood clot worries, but health officials say it’s still safe to use.

Another study found that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines didn’t lead to sudden heart problems in healthy young people, which is good news. Even though some famous people doubted the vaccines, most adults in the U.S. still got vaccinated.

Health experts still say that getting vaccinated is the best way to stay safe from COVID-19. They believe the benefits of vaccines are much bigger than any small risks.