Pericarditis Also Recognized as Causally Related to mRNA Vaccine... Retroactive Application (Update)

Reflection of COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Committee Research Results
Retroactive Application of Death Compensation, Medical Expenses, etc... 192 Cases Targeted

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] The causal range of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccine administration has been expanded to include pericarditis.

On the 26th, the Vaccination Injury Compensation Expert Committee announced that, based on the research results released by the COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Committee on the 12th, it has recognized the causality of pericarditis occurring after mRNA vaccine administration.

Previously, pericarditis was classified as a "related disease (insufficient evidence of causality, review criterion ④-1)" under the existing causality criteria, but it has now been changed to "causality recognized." Until now, the range of causality recognition for "major adverse reactions" included ▲thrombocytopenia with thrombosis (AstraZeneca, Janssen) ▲anaphylaxis (Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Janssen) ▲myocarditis (Pfizer, Moderna).

Earlier, on the 12th, the COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Committee announced that after comprehensively reviewing domestic and international cases, a statistically significant increase in the incidence of pericarditis was observed within 42 days after mRNA vaccine administration. Guillain-Barr? syndrome and others lack sufficient evidence to determine causality and will continue to be analyzed as additional evidence is supplemented.

When causality is recognized, compensation such as death/disability lump-sum payments, medical expenses, and nursing care costs is provided. According to this expanded adjustment of criteria, cases that previously applied for compensation due to pericarditis will be retroactively applied without separate procedures. If compensation has not been applied for, an application must be submitted within five years from the time the vaccination injury occurred for the compensation review to proceed. The task force plans to individually notify a total of 192 cases subject to retroactive application.

However, if the cause of pericarditis is found to be other infections or diseases such as tuberculosis or autoimmune diseases rather than COVID-19 vaccination, or if symptoms occur outside the post-vaccination symptom onset period (within 42 days after vaccination), and causality is not established, compensation may not be granted.