Japan Reports 11 Heart Inflammation Cases
Japan's health ministry says as of June 13 it had confirmed 11 cases of people suffering heart inflammation after receiving the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine in the country.
The ministry says their ages range from 25 to 72, and that a 72-year-old woman died, adding that it is impossible to determine if there is a link between the vaccination and her death.
The ministry also says nine people developed myocarditis or pericarditis after receiving their second shot and that eight were men.
The ministry's figure shows that about one in 1.56 million people had such conditions, while more than 17 million people had been vaccinated with Pfizer doses in Japan.
No heart inflammation cases had been reported as of June 13 among people who received Moderna doses.
The health ministry says no serious safety concerns have been confirmed so far, noting that the benefits of the Pfizer vaccine outweigh its risks.
The ministry has already decided to continue rolling out the vaccine, while closely monitoring information in Japan and abroad.
It also says there is a possibility that vaccination with Pfizer doses increases the risk of young men suffering heart inflammation, although it says accurate links are difficult to prove.
The ministry is urging people to see doctors when they feel chest pain or have trouble breathing.