American Heart Association Supports COVID-19 Vaccines

The American Heart Association urges all eligible individuals to get vaccinated to keep themselves, their family and their community healthy and safe. People with cardiovascular risk factors, heart disease, and heart attack and stroke survivors should get vaccinated as soon as possible because they are at much greater risk from the virus than they are from the vaccine.

The American Heart Association has been monitoring COVID-19 and its disproportionately negative effects on older adults; people with underlying medical conditions; and certain ethnicities – and strongly encourages everyone to get vaccinated with any approved COVID-19 vaccine as it is available.

The American Heart Association is confident the benefits of vaccination far exceed the very small, rare risks. The benefits also far outweigh the risks of COVID-19 and its potentially fatal consequences. The Association recommends people who have medical conditions consult with their health care professionals before seeking vaccination.

In addition, the Association reiterates the importance of handwashing, social distancing and wearing masks as vaccinations continue, particularly for people at high risk of infection and/or severe COVID-19. These simple precautions remain crucial to protecting people from the virus that causes COVID-19.

Sources:
American Heart Association
Centers for Disease Control