U.S. claims that Pfizer’s bivalent, COVID shot could be linked to strokes in older adults

(Reuters) – The updated COVID-19 shot by U.S. drugmaker Pfizer Inc. and German partner BioNTech could have been linked to a type if brain strokes in older adults, according preliminary data analyzed U.S. Health Authorities.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), officials from health said that patients 65 and over were more likely 21 days after receiving the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. This is in comparison with the days 22-44.

A blockage in the blood vessels that supply blood to the brain is what causes an ischemic stroke (also known as brain ischemia).

Authorities stated that further investigation is needed to determine if the safety concern poses a clinical risk.

BioNTech and Pfizer stated in a joint statement that they were made aware of reports of strokes in elderly people following their latest shot.

Pfizer said that BioNTech, Pfizer and BioNTech have not seen similar findings in a variety of monitoring systems across the U.S. and internationally. Furthermore, there is no evidence to support the conclusion that ischemic heart disease is linked with the use COVID-19 vaccinations.

Moderna’s bivalent shot has not been linked to this safety concern. FDA and CDC continue to recommend that all children 6 months or older have their COVID-19 vaccines up-to-date.

Moderna’s bivalent shots by Pfizer/BioNtech, which both target the original coronavirus as well as Omicron subvariants, are approved for children aged 6 months and over.

(Reporting by Bhanvi Satija, Bengaluru; Editing By Devika Syamnath