SMH interviews Professor Chris Semsarian AM

Professor Chris Semsarian AM, Head of the Agnes Ginges Centre for Molecular Cardiology at the Centenary Institute and spokesperson for the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand, has been interviewed by the Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) on his response to recent studies linking Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine with myocarditis, particularly in young men. In severe cases, myocarditis, inflammation of the heart muscle, can weaken the heart.

“Based on fairly limited studies with small numbers of patients, there is definitely a link between the Pfizer vaccine and myocarditis,” said Professor Semsarian.

“It is an association at this stage,” he said. “Causality needs to be proven with bigger numbers.”

“Regardless, there is a suspicion there is a link there.”

If it is proven the vaccine is causing the increased risk, Professor Semsarian said it was possible authorities would issue advice discouraging young males from receiving this particular vaccine.

“You might do something like avoid the second jab in young males, or use the AstraZeneca vaccine,” Professor Semsarian said.

“But everything in medicine is a balance of benefit and harm. In this situation, it is overwhelming the benefits of the vaccine’s protection from COVID-19 are much higher than the other scenario of not being vaccinated and getting severe life-threatening cardiac complications of COVID-19.”

Click here to view the full SMH news story online.

Further information about Professor Semsarian and the Agnes Ginges Centre for Molecular Cardiology at Centenary can be found here.

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