Retracted Canadian study that overestimated myocarditis after mRNA vaccine spreading among anti-vaxxers
A recent study by the Ottawa Heart Institute on myocarditis has been retracted, but not before it spread like wildfire throughout the anti-vaccine community.
The Canadian study detailing the rate of heart inflammation after an mRNA vaccine has been making the rounds on social media for the wrong reasons.
“As we all know, this exploded on social media and that’s unfortunate because there was a significant error in this and a significant calculation mistake,” said infectious disease specialist Dr. Isaac Bogoch.
The paper inaccurately reported a much higher incidence of the rare side effect, saying the reaction happened in 1 in 1000 patients.
“The current estimates are about 1 in 6000 to 1 in 25,000,” said Bogoch. “Some make it even rarer and the vast majority of these cases are mild and self resolved. But again, you have to acknowledge that this is still a potential side effect from the vaccine.”
30-year-old Matt Wubs recently had myocarditis after his first dose of the Pfizer vaccine.
“I was putting my head down on my desk just because I was so tired and I thought, 'You know what, this isn’t normal,'” said Wubs. “They were about to release me from the hospital here in Winchester, and then the bloodwork came back and that’s when my heart enzyme level was a lot higher than it should be.”
Wubs caught strep throat 10 years ago, which caused a similar inflammation around his heart called pericarditis. It’s not clear if the earlier infection played any part in the current myocarditis Wubs experienced.
“This time it was caught early enough that I didn’t have the same severe pain that I had suffered from before, 10 years previously,” said Wubs.
The authors of the article wouldn’t comment when contacted by CTV News Ottawa, but the Heart Institute released this statement:
“We are sorry a preprint paper citing incorrect data led to misinformation on the incidence of post-vaccine myocarditis. COVID-19 vaccines are safe and have been proven effective against the disease.”
The authors have since withdrawn the paper on the grounds of incorrect incidence data.
“The key thing here was, sure, there was a mathematical error. Errors can happen. Acknowledge that the error happened. Do the right thing, which they did,” said Bogoch.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
They were from different countries and barely spoke each other's languages. More than 20 years later, they're still happily in love
He decided to spend Christmas somewhere that wouldn't involve snowstorm disasters. She was spending the holidays with family, travelling for the first time outside of her native country of Venezuela. 23 years later, they're still in love.
Man who set himself on fire outside Trump trial dies of injuries, police say
A man who doused himself in an accelerant and set himself on fire outside the courthouse where former U.S. President Donald Trump is on trial has died, police said.
Verdun Airbnb listing taken down amid complaints, fines and frustration from neighbours
An Airbnb in Montreal's Verdun borough was the source of much frustration from neighbours who say there were constant parties at the location. It has been taken down from the app, but housing advocates remain upset about short-term rentals.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Fire in Labrador town under control, officials tells residents to stay away
RCMP say the fire that prompted a state of emergency in a Labrador town is now under control.
12 students and teacher killed in Columbine school shooting remembered at 25th anniversary vigil
Thirteen victims of the Columbine High School shooting were remembered during a vigil Friday on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the shooting that was the worst the nation had seen at the time.
Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza city of Rafah kills at least 9 Palestinians, including 6 children
An Israeli airstrike on a house in Gaza's southernmost city killed at least nine people, six of them children, hospital authorities said Saturday, as Israel pursued its nearly seven-month offensive in the besieged Palestinian territory.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
Iraq investigates a blast at a base of Iran-allied militias that killed 1. U.S. denies involvement
Iraqi authorities said Saturday that they were investigating an explosion that struck a base belonging to the Popular Mobilization Forces, a coalition of Iran-allied militias, killing one person and injuring eight.