According to a study published by Science Direct, researchers from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have found that the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine may be linked to a higher incidence of adverse effects in individuals aged 65 and older.
The study, which analyzed data from more than 25 million people up until January 15, 2022, found that 0.06% of people over the age of 65 who received the Pfizer vaccine developed a pulmonary embolism, or a blood clot in the lungs. “Four outcomes met the threshold for a statistical signal following BNT162b2 vaccination including pulmonary embolism (PE; RR = 1.54), acute myocardial infarction (AMI; RR = 1.42), disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC; RR = 1.91), and immune thrombocytopenia (ITP; RR = 1.44),” the study reads.
Additionally, the researchers observed an increased risk of blood clots, platelet disorders, and heart attacks among individuals over 65 who received the vaccine.
Despite these findings, the FDA still maintains the “benefits” of receiving the vaccine still outweigh the “risks” associated with contracting COVID. The paper says the FDA believes “the potential benefits of COVID-19 vaccination outweigh the potential risks of COVID-19 infection.” However, the FDA also communicated that it is currently not taking any regulatory actions based on these findings, as they are still being investigated and “require more robust study.”
