COVID-19 vaccine boosters in young adults expected to cause a net harm: per COVID-19 hospitalization prevented, anticipate at least 18.5 serious adverse events from mRNA vaccines, including 1.5–4.6

booster-associated myopericarditis cases in males (typically requiring hospitalization). anticipate 1430–4626 cases of grade ≥3 reactogenicity interfering with daily activities

‘To prevent one COVID-19 hospitalization over a 6-month period, we estimate that 31 207–42 836 young adults aged 18–29 years must receive a third mRNA vaccine…

Booster mandates in young adults are expected to cause a net harm: per COVID-19 hospitalization prevented, we anticipate at least 18.5 serious adverse events from mRNA vaccines, including 1.5–4.6 booster-associated myopericarditis cases in males (typically requiring hospitalization)…

We also anticipate 1430–4626 cases of grade ≥3 reactogenicity interfering with daily activities (although typically not requiring hospitalisation)…

University booster mandates are unethical because they:

(1) are not based on an updated (Omicron era) stratified risk-benefit assessment for this age group;

(2) may result in a net harm to healthy young adults;

(3) are not proportionate: expected harms are not outweighed by public health benefits given modest and transient effectiveness of vaccines against transmission;

(4) violate the reciprocity principle because serious vaccine-related harms are not reliably compensated due to gaps in vaccine injury schemes; and

(5) may result in wider social harms.’

SOURCE:

https://jme.bmj.com/content/early/2022/12/05/jme-2022-108449