COVID-19 vaccines led to 13,000 injury claims: Report
- 270 million Americans were vaccinated against COVID-19
- Federal officials say side effects were rare
- Claims cited cardiovascular, neurological symptoms
(NewsNation) — More than 13,000 injury compensation claims linked to COVID-19 vaccinations have been filed with the federal government, according to a New York Times investigation.
The study showed that despite claims the shots caused side effects, little has been done to investigate those concerns.
The newspaper spoke with 30 people who say that they have been harmed by the vaccines, which are estimated to have prevented 14.4 million COVID-19-related deaths, according to one medical study cited by the Times.
However, the Times investigation found that of the 270 million Americans who received a total of about 677 million doses of the vaccines, just 0.001% experienced side effects believed to be associated with them.
Those claiming to have experienced side effects told the newspaper their symptoms were neurological, autoimmune or cardiovascular in nature.
Yet of the 13,000 claims filed, only 19% have been investigated, the newspaper’s probe found.
Among the maladies linked to the COVID-19 vaccines is shingles, which has been tied to about seven of every 1 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine. Other side effects that have been reported include limited cases of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart) and limited blood clotting that were associated with the Johnson & Johnson vaccines.
Federal health officials have told the Times that serious COVID-19 vaccine side effects were extremely rare and that health officials’ surveillance efforts to detect patterns of adverse effects were “more than sufficient.”
The Times’ investigative story can be found here, while the newspaper’s key findings from its probe can be found by clicking here.