SINGAPORE – Three independent medical expert bodies here reiterated that the risk of heart disease associated with the Covid-19 mRNA vaccine is “very low”, and recommended that people always receive the vaccines in the interest of public health .

The chapter of cardiologists at the College of Physicians, the Academy of Medicine and the Singapore Cardiac Society said on Monday, June 14, that the risk posed by Covid-19 to health is far greater than the risk of jabs.

“We continue to recommend that eligible members of the public get vaccinated against Covid-19, as the risk of complications from Covid-19 infection continues to significantly exceed the risk of Covid-19 vaccines,” they said. in a joint press release.

“Vaccination helps prevent the majority of individuals from becoming seriously ill from Covid-19 and facilitates herd immunity in the community.”

Six people here are said to have suffered from myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart muscle, and pericarditis, or inflammation of the lining outside the heart, after receiving an mRNA vaccine, including four young men under the age of 30. The other two are a man and a woman, both over 40 years old.

The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said most cases occurred within days of receiving the second dose of the vaccine, and all have recovered or have been discharged well from hospital.

Current data suggests that there is a very low risk of myocarditis and pericarditis after receiving a second dose of the Covid-19 mRNA vaccine, especially in men under the age of 30.

But authorities and experts have both said such cases are extremely rare, and it is still unclear whether vaccines are responsible.

As a precaution, experts have advised those vaccinated, especially adolescents and young men, to avoid strenuous physical activity for a week after their second dose.

The Pfizer BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, both used in Singapore’s national inoculation program, are mRNA vaccines.

The United States and Israel – two main users of mRNA vaccines – also reported a slightly increased risk of myocarditis and pericarditis in young men after the second dose of mRNA vaccination.

The three medical bodies admitted on Monday that these two countries had observed an increased risk of such heart conditions, but noted that Singapore’s sample size is too small to be conclusive.

They added that they were monitoring the situation closely and would advise if there were any updates.