Falling (Sports) Stars: Reports of Myocarditis in Athletes following the COVID-19 Vaccine
Recently well-known cardiologist Dr. Peter McCullough sat down to discuss the effects of COVID-19 vaccines on some of the world’s top athletes on an episode of what is known as “The Dr. Ardis Show.” TrialSite previously reported on Dr. Peter McCullough when he suggested that health authorities reconsider administering vaccines to individuals under the age of 30, summarizing his perspectives on the pandemic. The interview covered the recent observations of healthy professional athletes collapsing and dying on the field, and how this occurrence can be connected to the COVID-19 vaccines.
This most recent show occurred on the Dr. Ardis Show hosted by a controversial chiropractor named Dr. Bryan Ardis. He has been an outspoken critic of the COVID-19 vaccine. TrialSite, an unbiased and objective media platform offers a multiplicity of views on medical research topics—both critical and aligned with popular narratives.
Linking COVID-19 Vaccines to Myocarditis
Throughout history, instances of sudden deaths in athletes due to cardiac arrest have always occurred. This has mostly been traced back to a genetic condition known as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy where the heart muscle becomes unusually thick and struggles to pump blood. Most collegiate and professional athletes in the United States are now screened for this condition before competing. Screening, coupled with advances in sports rehydration, has lessened the likelihood of professional athletes collapsing due to heart problems.
Since the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccines, there has been an influx of athletes suffering heath failure and sudden death on the field. This phenomenon is becoming so common that Dr. Peter McCullough suspects the COVID-19 vaccines may be to blame. “80% of athletes at the collegiate and professional level have received the vaccine,” Dr. McCullough stated on “The Dr. Ardis Show” episode. Although athletes and sports teams are not required to disclose their vaccination status, this statistic was taken from athletes at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as well as through discussions with major sports teams.
According to Dr. McCullough, officials from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) disclosed the relationship between myocarditis and the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines in June 2021 and updated their statement in November 2021. “It was clear to the officials that the vaccines were causing heart inflammation, but they said the cases were both mild and rare,” said Dr. McCullough. It would appear from real-world reports, however, that the incidents of myocarditis after vaccination are neither mild nor rare. In fact, the risk of myocarditis in younger people and athletes following vaccination was previously reported by TrialSite.
Severity of Myocarditis Cases
Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart muscles that can reduce the heart’s ability to pump blood. Myocarditis is usually caused by a viral infection, but it may also result from a negative reaction to a drug. Symptoms of myocarditis include chest pain, fatigue, rapid or irregular heartbeats, and shortness of breath. Studies in both adults and children have found that males are more susceptible than females, accounting for 77-80% of clinical myocarditis cases.
Dr. McCullough stated that myocarditis occurred in 4 people per million before the COVID-19 pandemic, which equates to approximately 800 cases per year in the United States. Since COVID-19 vaccines began being administered, there have been upwards of 11 000 cases of myocarditis in the U.S. This contradicts the statement by the CDC that the occurrence of myocarditis is rare.
The medical community is continuing to report on cases of myocarditis in their vaccinated patients. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine by Verma, Lavine and Lin (2021) reported two severe cases: the first in a 45-year old woman who recovered with treatment, and the second in a 42-year-old man who died three days later.
Papers from South Korea have also investigated myocarditis in vaccinated individuals. Choi et al. (2021) reported the death of a 22-year-old man 7 hours after his first dose of the Pfizer vaccine. Histopathology of the heart showed massive inflammatory infiltration, predominantly neutrophils. A paper by Kim et al (2021) also investigated the sudden occurrence of myocarditis in a healthy 24-year-old male shortly after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. A further report by Lim et al (2021) details a case of near-fatal fulminant myocarditis in a previously healthy 38-year-old woman seven days after vaccination.
These reports further contradict the CDC statement that the cases of myocarditis are mild, as these published cases are severe and often lethal. “Reports are coming in hot and heavy of myocarditis being fatal,” says Dr. McCullough.
Another study that explored the occurrence of myocarditis in adolescents was conducted by Foltran et al. (2021) and is currently in pre-print as of December 2021. This study analyzed 4942 reports following mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in adolescents aged 12 to 17 years old. The study found 242 cases of pericarditis and/or myocarditis, 85% of which were reported in males. Most reports were serious (95%), with 79% requiring hospitalization. There was one fatality.
A paper written by Avolio et al. (currently in pre-print) suggests that the spike proteins generated from the COVID-19 vaccines disrupt cardiac pericytes, also known as support cells, in the heart. The nature of the spike protein is possibly injurious to the heart and can cause myocarditis in otherwise healthy individuals. “The spike protein is the last thing you want in the human body,” said Dr. McCullough. There exist huge complications between the mRNA vaccines, spike proteins generated by the vaccines, the heart muscle, and myocarditis.
Are the Vaccines to Blame?
As many athletes and sports teams do not disclose their vaccination status, it is possible that athletes are collapsing because of undiagnosed conditions. Since hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is screened out before an athlete becomes professional, however, it seems unlikely.
In the episode, Dr. McCullough said the standard management of myocarditis is to diagnose it with an EKG and a physical. Once myocarditis is detected, it can be successfully treated with prescribed drugs and no physical activity for months. The problem arises when athletes do not want to miss practice or important sporting events and so do not get tested. Without the testing, cardiac death is more likely to occur – the same type of death that we have been seeing in the headlines.
“Grossly unsafe” vaccines
Dr. McCullough emphasized in the interview that he is not against vaccines, and even got an influenza vaccine not too long ago. McCullough has been critical of this particular vaccine but is not a general “anti-vaxxer.” Driving his concern in this whole pandemic is the autocratic nature of how decisions are made. For example, only a few government-selected officials telling the world what is happening with the pandemic. TrialSite has reported on the positive elements of the vaccine—for example, the data indicate the positive impact on reduction in severe injury and death due to COVID-19. But reports of adverse events are not fully investigated. And a culture of fear and intimidation over healthcare professionals ensures. A uniform message, led by government officials continuously republishes the message that the vaccines are safe and effective – but TrialSite continues to find evidence of waning efficacy of the vaccines – and there is no external review to verify the efficacy claims on Americans. Moreover, while the safety incidence by no means impacts everyone they most certainly impact some of the vaccinated—enough to have raised alarms with previous vaccines for example. “The vaccines…are grossly unsafe with all the vaccine-induced deaths and acknowledged vaccine injury syndromes,” concluded Dr. McCullough. TrialSite will continue to monitor the reported adverse effects of the COVID-19 vaccines, including the increase in myocarditis in healthy individuals, as well as the differences in natural immunity and efficacy of vaccines