After a football player went into cardiac arrest during a Monday night football game, social media users and several newsletter writers spread false claims that the player’s cardiac arrest was due to COVID-19 vaccines. Others speculated without evidence that while the player’s injury could have had another cause, perhaps vaccination made it worse.
The athlete’s high profile and the heavy news coverage of his injury raise the risk of this misinformation. There is no evidence of any connection between the incident and the player’s vaccination—and many social media users also spoke out against those using the player’s health crisis to make anti-vaccine comments. People who spread anti-vaccine messaging frequently use the health issues faced by public figures to try to make claims about vaccination being dangerous. It is important to monitor any potential adverse effects of vaccines, and systems are in place to do so. But it’s up to medical professionals to determine if any adverse events have occurred, and there is no evidence connecting the athlete’s medical condition to vaccines. Exposing the disinformation strategies of vaccine opponents and emphasizing key messages is recommended: COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. The risk of heart complications from COVID-19 infection is far higher than the small risk following vaccination.
More Information:
What happened to Damar Hamlin? After tackling an opposing player, Hamlin stood up and then collapsed. Medical professionals administered CPR on the field to revive his heartbeat, and he was then taken by ambulance to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where he continues to receive treatment.
What caused the cardiac arrest? Hamlin’s doctors have not yet determined the cause, but some medical professionals have said the incident was consistent with Commotio Cordis, a rare, serious medical condition that occurs when a person is hit in the chest and that impact triggers a dramatic change in the rhythm of their heart.
Was Hamlin’s cardiac arrest caused by a COVID-19 vaccine? There is no evidence that Hamlin’s cardiac arrest was in any way related to a COVID vaccine. COVID-19 vaccine side effects have been intensively evaluated, and there is no evidence that cardiac arrest is associated with vaccine administration in the millions of people who have received it.
Do mRNA COVID-19 vaccines increase the risk of any heart-related problems? The mRNA COVID-19 vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna are among the most widely and safely administered and monitored vaccines in the history of vaccine use. They are associated with a very small risk of heart inflammation, called myocarditis. Myocarditis has many different causes and can lead to cardiac arrest in some instances. A study published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation found that the risk of developing myocarditis following a COVID-19 vaccine booster is low, and when it does occur, cases are typically mild. In fact, extensive research shows that the COVID-19 virus poses a higher risk for myocarditis than vaccines.
Do COVID-19 vaccines increase the likelihood of an athlete dying suddenly? No. Despite false claims that COVID-19 vaccines have increased Sudden Athlete Death Syndrome (SADS), scientific reviews, medical experts, and sports cardiologists have found no association between sudden death in athletes and vaccines.
- “The Inflated Risk of Vaccine-Induced Cardiac Arrest,” The Atlantic, Jan. 4, 2023
- “NFL Player Damar Hamlin’s Cardiac Arrest Triggers Unfounded Social Media Claims,” factcheck.org, Jan. 3, 2023
- “Benefits of COVID-19 Vaccination Outweigh the Rare Risk of Myocarditis, Even in Young Males,”org, March 1, 2022; updated April 5, 2022
- “Article Makes Unfounded Claims Linking Athletes’ Injuries, Deaths to Vaccines,” factcheck.org, Dec. 21, 2021
