Myocarditis

As part of the AESI long term follow-up program, AusVaxSafety is actively engaging with individuals diagnosed with myocarditis following COVID-19 vaccination in Australia through follow-up interviews and surveys to assess their physical and psychological health over an 18-month period to better understand the long-term health impact of myocarditis.

What is myocarditis?

Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle. In rare instances, myocarditis has been reported by individuals after receiving an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine – Pfizer or Moderna.

What are we doing? 

The AusVaxSafety long-term follow-up program will help us gain a greater understanding of the characteristics, progress and clinical outcomes of myocarditis by actively engaging with individuals in Australia affected by these conditions over an 18-month period following diagnosis.

The collection and analysis of clinical data from individuals affected by myocarditis will provide important information for clinicians treating myocarditis, and may inform future vaccination policies in Australia.

Who can take part?

Any individual who has a confirmed case of myocarditis as per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) definition with symptom onset within 42 days after mRNA COVID-19 vaccination is eligible to participate in the myocarditis study arm.

Eligible individuals will be identified and contacted by a nurse or doctor from state/territory health departments.

Participation in the myocarditis study arm is voluntary and all individuals affected by myocarditis will receive the best possible care whether they participate or not.

How are we doing this?

Individuals affected by myocarditis who meet the eligibility criteria will be invited to participate in this AusVaxSafety follow-up program. Those who agree to participate in the program will be contacted and sent surveys at different time points over an 18-month period. These surveys ask questions around general health, relevant follow-up tests and psychological health. With permission, the treating specialists of participants will also provide additional information regarding their care and progress. 

Data collected from participants will be de-identified and analysed by clinical specialists and epidemiologists and results, highlighting key findings and recommendations for the future, will be published.

For more information, please contact AusVaxSafety at SCHN-AusVaxSafety@health.nsw.gov.au