When Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed after a hit during a game on Jan. 2, the internet erupted with concern. Almost immediately, conspiracy theories were part of the dialogue. The young man's condition was assumed to be a possible side effect of the COVID-19 vaccine, such as myocarditis, based on nothing but bias and speculation.
According to the CDC, myocarditis and pericarditis are serious side effects that have been reported following mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. But the cases reported are rare and largely mild. As a study done in England and shared by the American Heart Association showed,"The overall risk of myocarditis — inflammation of the heart muscle — is substantially higher immediately after being infected with COVID-19 than it is in the weeks following vaccination for the coronavirus.
Even news sites such as The Blaze join the fear fest with articles such as"20-year-old college tennis player dies in his sleep; no cause of death announced." To be clear, there's no proof these sudden deaths are because of the vaccine, even if the deceased was fully vaccinated. This doesn't seem to matter, though. As long as seeds of doubt are planted and anger at COVID policies or public officials remains, the job is done. This is not how it should be.