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Is the COVID Vaccine Safe for People With Heart Problems?

Sarah Gupta, MDKaren Hovav, MD, FAAP
Written by Sarah Gupta, MD | Reviewed by Karen Hovav, MD, FAAP
Updated on January 23, 2025

Key takeaways:

  • COVID-19 infections can be especially dangerous for people who have an underlying heart problem.

  • COVID vaccination is safe — and strongly recommended — for most people with a heart condition.

  • The available vaccines were tested in people with heart problems and found to be safe and effective.

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COVID-19 vaccines present no special problems for people with conditions that affect their heart. In fact, the American Heart Association (AHA) encourages people with heart problems and stroke survivors to get vaccinated because COVID presents a bigger risk. 

In clinical trials, the vaccines worked just as well for people with underlying health conditions as they did in generally healthy people. 

If I have a heart condition, am I more likely to have side effects from the vaccine?

No. A heart condition doesn’t make side effects (or a severe reaction) any more likely. According to the AHA, the risk of complications from the vaccine is very small, even for people with underlying health conditions.

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While the COVID vaccines can cause side effects, most are short lived and mild. Common side effects include injection site pain, fever, and muscle soreness that go away on their own in a few days.

Which is riskier for people with heart conditions: COVID infection or the vaccine?

Having COVID is much riskier than getting the vaccine. This is especially true for people with an underlying health condition. 

The COVID vaccines are safe and effective. In comparison, having COVID can cause severe illness or death in people with heart problems. For example, you may be more at risk for COVID complications if you have:

This is why the CDC recommends vaccination for people with underlying conditions, including heart conditions. 

Can the COVID vaccine lead to heart problems?

Although COVID vaccines are generally very safe, they’ve been linked to some rare heart complications. This risk is much less than the risk of heart problems from COVID. 

And getting vaccinated for COVID makes it less likely that you’ll have a serious heart condition overall. A large study of over 8 million adults in Sweden found that people who had the full COVID vaccine series were less likely to develop heart attacks, stroke, and heart failure compared with those who were unvaccinated.

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Let’s review what the research shows about COVID vaccines and the heart. 

COVID vaccine and myocarditis

Myocarditis is a condition in which the heart muscle becomes inflamed. This can make it hard for the heart to pump blood. People with myocarditis may experience chest pain, trouble breathing or heart racing. 

Myocarditis can be a rare complication of COVID vaccines. When it does happen, it’s most likely to affect adolescent and young adult males. Symptoms usually start within 7 days of the second dose of the initial mRNA COVID vaccine series. It’s less likely to happen after a COVID booster shot, but there’s still some increased risk. 

Researchers estimate that your chance of getting myocarditis is anywhere from 7 to 20 times higher from a COVID infection than it is from a COVID vaccine. And most people with myocarditis after COVID vaccine have mild symptoms and recover fully. 

COVID vaccine and pericarditis

Pericarditis is a condition when the tissue lining of the heart becomes inflamed. It causes symptoms that are similar to myocarditis, like chest pain and trouble taking a deep breath. 

Pericarditis, like myocarditis, can be a very rare side effect of the COVID vaccine. It’s also more common in young males. It’s usually mild and resolves without treatment. 

COVID vaccine and heart palpitations

Some studies suggest that the COVID vaccine can lead to brief episodes of extra heartbeats, known as premature ventricular contractions (PVCs). These extra heartbeats aren’t dangerous, and usually don’t need any intervention. But they might cause palpitations, a feeling of flutter or pounding in your chest. 

COVID vaccine and atrial fibrillation

The COVID vaccine may also lead to a very small increased chance of other arrhythmias, like atrial fibrillation, or AFib. AFib can lead to more serious heart problems. While studies have been mixed, there’s some evidence that the COVID vaccine may increase the risk of developing AFib. 

How does COVID infection affect my heart?

COVID can lead to lasting heart damage. Studies have found that COVID can lead to heart problems in people of all ages, races, or gender. And these problems tend to be more severe than the rare complications linked to the COVID vaccine. 

More severe COVID infections are more likely to lead to heart problems, but heart conditions can develop even in people with mild symptoms. 

COVID infection leads to an increased risk of:

If I have a heart condition, how can I protect myself against COVID?

If you have a heart condition, you can continue to protect yourself, your community, and your loved ones by:

  • Staying up to date with your COVID vaccines

  • Practicing good hygiene, including washing your hands often

  • Opening windows and taking other steps to promote clean air and ventilation

  • Wearing a mask when in high-risk settings

If you have a heart condition and you do get sick with COVID, reach out to your healthcare team. Getting early treatment for COVID can help lower your risk for developing new or worse heart problems. 

Frequently asked questions

What are the most serious side effects of COVID vaccines?

The most serious side effects of COVID vaccines are anaphylaxis, myocarditis, and pericarditis. Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that happens in about 5 out of every 1 million people who get the COVID vaccine. 

Myocarditis and pericarditis are heart conditions caused by inflammation in or around the heart. The risk for these serious side effects depends on vaccine type and your age and sex. The risk is higher for young males after a second dose of an mRNA COVID vaccine. 

Can COVID cause heart palpitations?

Yes, COVID can cause heart palpitations, a feeling of pounding or fluttering in your chest. Sometimes palpitations happen with COVID infection even when your heart rhythm is normal. But sometimes they happen because COVID can cause arrhythmias — changes in your heart’s rhythm. Arrhythmias from COVID infection can range from minor and self-resolving to serious and life-threatening.

The bottom line

If you have a heart condition, getting vaccinated against COVID is safe and recommended. Heart disease puts you at higher risk of complications from COVID infection, and the vaccine can help lower that risk. 

The COVID vaccine has been linked to rare heart problems like myocarditis and pericarditis. But those conditions are more common and more severe after COVID infection itself. And COVID can lead to more serious heart problems, like heart failure and heart attacks. So when it comes to protecting your heart, vaccination is still your best bet. 

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Why trust our experts?

Sarah Gupta, MD
Written by:
Sarah Gupta, MD
Sarah Gupta, MD, is a licensed physician with a special interest in mental health, sex and gender, eating disorders, and the human microbiome. She is currently board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
Alex Eastman, PhD, RN
Alex Eastman, PhD, RN, is a California-based registered nurse and staff medical editor at GoodRx, where he focuses on clinical updates and Latino health.
Karen Hovav, MD, FAAP
Karen Hovav, MD, FAAP, has more than 15 years of experience as an attending pediatrician in a variety of clinical settings. She has worked in a large academic center in an urban city, a small community hospital, a private practice, and an urgent care clinic.

References

American Heart Association. (n.d.). If you’re a patient: Coronavirus questions for heart and stroke patients.

American Heart Association. (2023). Questions about COVID-19 vaccination.

View All References (19)

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Buoninfante, A., et al. (2024). Myocarditis associated with COVID-19 vaccination. NPJ Vaccines.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Clinical considerations: Myocarditis and pericarditis after receipt of COVID-19 vaccines among adolescents and young adults.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine safety.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). How to protect yourself and others.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Hygiene and respiratory viruses prevention.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Masks and respiratory viruses prevention.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccines.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Taking steps for cleaner air for respiratory virus prevention.

Elizalde, M. U., et al. (2024). Myocarditis and pericarditis risk with mRNA COVID-19 vaccination compared to unvaccinated individuals: A retrospective cohort study in a Spanish Tertiary Hospital. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy.

Gopinathannair, R., et al. (2024). Cardiac arrhythmias and autonomic dysfunction associated with COVID-19: A scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation.

Merschel, M. (2021). What heart and stroke patients should know about COVID-19 vaccines. American Heart Association News.

Merschel, M. (2022). Blood clot risk remains elevated nearly a year after COVID-19. American Heart Association News.

Patone, M., et al. (2021). Risks of myocarditis, pericarditis, and cardiac arrhythmias associated with COVID-19 vaccination or SARS-CoV-2 infection. Nature Medicine.

Shi, A., et al. (2023). Abstract 12013: Cardiac arrhythmia after COVID-19 vaccination versus non-COVID-19 vaccination: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Circulation.

Terzic, C. M., et al. (2023). Cardiovascular complications of COVID-19. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America.

Voleti, N., et al. (2022). Myocarditis in SARS-CoV-2 infection vs. COVID-19 vaccination: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine.

Williamson, L. (2020). What COVID-19 is doing to the heart, even after recovery. American Heart Association News.

Xu, Y., et al. (2025). Cardiovascular events following coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination in adults: a nationwide Swedish study. European Heart Journal.

GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.

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