A MAJOR new study has revealed that the COVID-19 infection in children poses a far greater risk of heart and inflammatory complications than the vaccination. Researchers found that heart conditions lasted longer and occurred more frequently following infection than after the vaccination.
Understanding the Impact of COVID-19 in Children
Published in The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health, the research represents the largest analysis of its kind, examining nearly 14 million children across England. Led by teams from the Universities of Cambridge, Edinburgh, and University College London, and supported by the BHF Data Science Centre, the study compared the short- and long-term risks of heart, vascular, and inflammatory diseases after infection and vaccination.
Largest Population Study on Health Risks After Infection and Vaccination
Researchers examined linked electronic health records for 13,896,125 individuals under 18 in England between January 2020 and December 2022, covering 98% of this population. Among these, 3.9 million had a first COVID-19 diagnosis, and 3.4 million received their first BNT162b2 vaccine. The study found that infection was associated with sharply higher risks within the first week: arterial thromboembolism (aHR 2.33), venous thromboembolism (4.90), thrombocytopenia (3.64), myocarditis or pericarditis (3.46), and inflammatory conditions (14.84). Elevated risks persisted for up to 12 months for some conditions, whereas the risk of myocarditis or pericarditis after vaccination increased only within four weeks (aHR 1.84).
Implications for Public Health and Clinical Practice
The authors emphasised that the risks of COVID-19 in children far outweigh the transient side effects of vaccination. Their analysis supports ongoing vaccination campaigns as a means of preventing longer-term complications. For clinicians, the results underline the importance of continued monitoring for vascular and inflammatory symptoms post-infection, alongside reassuring parents that vaccination remains the safer route for protecting children’s health.
Reference
Sampri A et al. Vascular and inflammatory diseases after COVID-19 infection and vaccination in children and young people in England: a retrospective, population-based cohort study using linked electronic health records. Lancet Child Adolesc Health. 2025;DOI:10.1016/S2352-4642(25)00247-0.
