A popular social media post asks why the general public hadn’t heard of myocarditis prior to COVID-19 if the condition was “so normal.” Responses to the post insinuate that myocarditis was not an issue before COVID-19 vaccines and block users who point to evidence to the contrary.
False claims and misconceptions about myocarditis have persisted for years, contributing to vaccine hesitancy. Prebunking messaging may explain that myocarditis was first described in the 1700s and identified as a distinct diagnosis in the 1980s. Research on the condition spans decades, including a 2016 study that found global myocarditis cases were rising. Debunking messaging may emphasize that myocarditis was and is very rare and that the general public is unaware of most rare diseases that don’t affect them or a loved one. Talking points may also explain that myocarditis is seven times more likely to occur after COVID-19 infection than after COVID-19 vaccination.
