Taiwan will begin administering the Pfizer-BioNTech (BNT) COVID-19 vaccine to high school students on Wednesday, and the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) has advised that they avoid strenuous exercise for two weeks after getting the jab.
Recipients should watch for symptoms of myocarditis — inflammation of the heart muscle — and pericarditis — inflammation of the outer lining of the heart — within 28 days after BNT vaccination, Health and Welfare Minister Chen Shih-chung (???) said at a daily press briefing of the CECC, which he heads.
Symptoms include chest pain, chest pressure or chest tightness; shortness of breath; feelings of having a fast-beating, fluttering, or pounding heart; fainting; and a lower tolerance for exercise, Chen said.
People who experience such symptoms should seek prompt medical attention and tell doctors when they were vaccinated.
Concerns over the side effects of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, such as the BNT vaccine, were raised after reports of young adults developing heart problem after getting the jabs.
The United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said at the end of August that the risk of myocarditis is 18.5 cases per 1 million doses after a second dose of the BNT vaccine in people aged 18 to 24, considered to be the highest risk group.
The BNT vaccine is currently the only COVID-19 vaccine that Phase 3 trial results demonstrated to be effective and safe for participants aged 12 and up. It is authorized be administered to people aged 12 years and older in Taiwan.
Taiwan is scheduled to begin rolling out the vaccine on Sept. 22, with people aged 12-17 first in line.
Students at junior or senior high schools have the choice of receiving the vaccine either at their school or a hospital.
The health department in each municipality will administer the doses to students at school campuses.
Those who opt not to take the vaccine at school may make other arrangements on the 1922 vaccine registration platform, according to the CECC.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel