S2 Ep10: Fighting COVID-19 Vaccine Misinformation and Heart Awareness

COVID-19 Vaccine & Damar Hamlin: Social media posts linking Damar Hamlin's collapse to the COVID-19 vaccine are unsubstantiated. His vaccination status is unknown, and doctors suggest commotio cordis (blunt chest trauma) as a possible cause for his cardiac arrest, not a heart attack.

Commotio Cordis vs. Heart Attack: Commotio cordis is a sudden cardiac arrest from chest trauma at a specific heartbeat moment, requiring immediate 9-1-1 and CPR. A heart attack is due to blocked blood flow, where the person can still talk/breathe but needs hospital care.

Vaccine Side Effects: Rare cases of myocarditis and pericarditis (heart inflammation) have been reported in teen boys and young men post-second COVID-19 shot, typically resolving quickly. Severe allergic reactions are also a remote possibility.

Vaccine Safety & Efficacy: COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, undergoing continuous testing. Vaccination and boosters prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death, building immunity against the virus and its variants like Omicron.

XBB.1.5 Variant: XBB.1.5, an Omicron subvariant, is spreading quickly but shows no evidence of causing more severe illness. More information is expected.

Accessibility: OHA provides information in alternate formats. Contact 1-971-673-2411, 711 TTY, or [e-mail].

 QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY: 
"Why are we getting an influx of super sicknesses? Respiratory systems seem to be under attack (RSV, colds, Covid) what factors are contributing to this?" - Janita Jones 

"Might be good to address the concerns of myocarditis and vaccines." - Holly Hinson 

"Ideas & Community Care practices inclusive of immunocompromised people - how can we move forward without leaving a group of people behind?" - Emma Holland