The rare side-effect of myocarditis from the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine is more mild in adolescents and young adults than complications from the virus itself, experts say.
A new study by researchers from Melbourne's Monash Children's Hospital (MCH), Monash Health and Monash University shows the heart condition found in adolescents aged 12 to 18 was less common and had a "mild, self-resolving clinical course".
In 33 patients, none presented with congestive heart failure or required intensive care treatment, inotropic support, immunoglobulin or steroid therapy, according to the authors, led by Dr Suraj Varma, a pediatric cardiologist at MonashHeart and MCH.
Research published in The Medical Journal of Australia showed 14 patients (42 per cent) had rising troponin levels at presentation; eight had electrocardiogram (ECG) changes typical for pericarditis, but no arrhythmias were detected by inpatient observations.
All patients improved after treatment with high dose ibuprofen.
The vaccine-associated myocarditis study is the largest reported for a single childrens hospital.
Elsewhere, the ACT on Monday extended its public health emergency declaration until 11.59pm on September 30, with new cases of the virus averaging fewer than 1000 a day.
"This level of community transmission still poses a risk to community members, particularly those who are more at risk of severe outcomes," ACT Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said.
LATEST 24-HOUR COVID-19 DATA:
Victoria: 4911 cases, one death, 657 in hospital with 37 in ICU
NSW: 7648 cases, four deaths, 2236 in hospital with 59 in ICU
Queensland: 2504 cases, no deaths, 667 in hospital with 26 in ICU
Tasmania: 455 cases, no deaths, 84 in hospital with one in ICU.
