Safety of the BNT162b2 mRNA Covid-19 Vaccine in a Nationwide Setting

This observational study assessed the safety profile of the BNT162b2 mRNA Covid-19 vaccine across a nationwide cohort in Israel. Using matched controls, researchers evaluated 42-day post-vaccination risks for a wide array of adverse events. Among 884,828 vaccinated individuals, vaccination showed elevated risk for myocarditis (3.24x; 2.7 events per 100,000), lymphadenopathy, appendicitis, and herpes zoster infection. Most associations were mild and temporary, with serious complications being rare. For context, comparable analysis of SARS-CoV-2 infection revealed substantially higher risks for myocarditis and multiple other adverse events. The study concludes that BNT162b2 is generally safe, with far fewer complications than Covid-19 itself.

This observational study assessed the safety profile of the BNT162b2 mRNA Covid-19 vaccine across a nationwide cohort in Israel. Using matched controls, researchers evaluated 42-day post-vaccination risks for a wide array of adverse events. Among 884,828 vaccinated individuals, vaccination showed elevated risk for myocarditis (3.24x; 2.7 events per 100,000), lymphadenopathy, appendicitis, and herpes zoster infection. Most associations were mild and temporary, with serious complications being rare. For context, comparable analysis of SARS-CoV-2 infection revealed substantially higher risks for myocarditis and multiple other adverse events. The study concludes that BNT162b2 is generally safe, with far fewer complications than Covid-19 itself.