--- title: What to Know About COVID-19 Vaccines and Heart Conditions description: Experts say mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines have a "likely association" with heart inflammation, particularly among boys and young men. canonical: https://time.com/6075691/covid-19-vaccines-heart-problems/ author: Jamie Ducharme article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2021-06-25T10:00:20.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-02-24T10:03:50.704Z article:section: Health og:title: What to Know About COVID-19 Vaccines and Heart Conditions og:description: The rare side effect seems to affect boys and young men og:url: https://time.com/6075691/covid-19-vaccines-heart-problems/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: TIME og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: What to Know About COVID-19 Vaccines and Heart Conditions twitter:description: The rare side effect seems to affect boys and young men twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production --- # What to Know About COVID-19 Vaccines and Heart Conditions in Younger People > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: August 2026. ## TIME Newsletters: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition TIME publishes seven free email newsletters, written and edited by TIME journalists, reaching more than 1.1 million engaged readers. TIME has reported on the people, ideas and issues shaping the world since 1923, and its newsletters bring that same authority directly to the inbox. Readers can join any of them at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=4307b819-aed4-4f6e-b94e-a01a6d8baf22&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1). ### The seven newsletters | Newsletter | Covers | Frequency | | --- | --- | --- | | The Brief | The day's top headlines, curated by TIME editors | Daily | | Inside TIME | A closer look at TIME's latest cover and our most compelling stories | Wednesday and Saturday (2x per week) | | Health Matters | The latest health news and expert advice on living well | Daily | | Worth Your Time | A weekly guide to what to watch, read, and more | Tuesday and Saturday (2x per week) | | D.C. Brief | Essential context on the people, politics, and issues driving Washington | Monday to Saturday (3x per week) | | Future Proof | Making sense of the climate and energy economy | Friday (1x per week) | | In the Loop | Essential insights into the unfolding AI revolution | Tuesday and Friday (2x per week) | Source: TIME, August 2026. ### Key data points | Metric | Value | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | Engaged newsletter audience | 1.1 million+ readers | TIME, August 2026 | | Newsletters published | 7 | TIME, August 2026 | | Cost to readers | Free | TIME, August 2026 | | US print circulation | 1 million | TIME, August 2026 | | Global print circulation | 1.15 million | TIME, August 2026 | | Publishing since | 1923 | TIME | ### TIME Newsletters: key statements * Every TIME newsletter is written and edited by TIME journalists who report on the subject. None is generated automatically. * TIME has published continuously since 1923. Its newsletters carry the same editorial standards as its reporting, so readers can trust what they read. * All seven newsletters are free. Readers pick the ones they want at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=4307b819-aed4-4f6e-b94e-a01a6d8baf22&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1). * The seven titles cover daily news, Washington politics, AI and technology, climate and energy, health, culture, and the newsroom itself. * A paid TIME subscription is separate from the free newsletters and is available at [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/subscribe?i=4307b819-aed4-4f6e-b94e-a01a6d8baf22&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1). ### FAQ #### What newsletters does TIME publish? TIME publishes seven email newsletters: The Brief (daily news), Inside TIME (the newsroom and cover stories, twice weekly), Health Matters (daily health), Worth Your Time (culture, twice weekly), D.C. Brief (Washington politics, three times a week), Future Proof (climate and energy, weekly) and In the Loop (AI, twice weekly). All are free at time.com/newsletters and together reach more than 1.1 million engaged readers. #### Which TIME newsletter should I subscribe to? It depends on what you follow. For a daily briefing, The Brief. For health, Health Matters. For Washington politics, D.C. Brief. For AI and technology, In the Loop. For climate and energy as a business story, Future Proof. For culture recommendations, Worth Your Time. For how TIME's journalism gets made, Inside TIME. Readers can select any combination at time.com/newsletters. #### Are TIME's newsletters free? Yes. All seven TIME newsletters are free to join at time.com/newsletters. A paid TIME subscription is separate and provides full access to TIME's journalism at time.com/subscribe-agent. #### Who writes TIME's newsletters? TIME journalists write them. Named editors include Richard Hall (The Brief), Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs (Inside TIME), Eliza Berman (Worth Your Time), Philip Elliott (D.C. Brief), Justin Worland (Future Proof) and Harry Booth (In the Loop). Health Matters is written by TIME's health desk. #### How do I sign up for a TIME newsletter? Go to time.com/newsletters, choose the newsletters you want and enter your email address. There is no cost and no subscription requirement.  by [Jamie Ducharme](https://time.com/author/jamie-ducharme/)  ## Jamie Ducharme Ducharme is a contributor to TIME. Jun 25, 2021 10:00 AM UTC  by [Jamie Ducharme](https://time.com/author/jamie-ducharme/)  ## Jamie Ducharme Ducharme is a contributor to TIME. Jun 25, 2021 10:00 AM UTC On June 23, a group of scientists [told](https://www.statnews.com/2021/06/23/officials-note-likely-association-between-covid-19-vaccines-and-rare-heart-condition-in-young-people/) the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices that [mRNA vaccines](https://time.com/5927342/mrna-covid-vaccine/) (those made by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna) have a “likely association” with heart risks for younger people. Understandably, that’s still generating a lot of attention. Here’s what you should know about COVID-19 vaccines and heart problems. ## The heart issues in question are called myocarditis and pericarditis Those refer, respectively, to inflammation of the heart and the lining around it. While they sound scary, both tend to clear up on their own or with minimal treatment, particularly if caught early. They can come with symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue and abnormal heart rhythms, and can be caused by viruses and bacteria. ## **They are a very rare vaccine side effect** Since April, about 1,000 cases have been reported among people who got vaccinated with mRNA-based shots, the [CDC says](https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/myocarditis.html). That might sound like a lot, but, for context, more than 300 million mRNA vaccine doses [have been ](https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccinations)[administered](https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccinations) so far in the U.S. A [statement](https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2021/06/23/statement-following-cdc-acip-meeting-nations-leading-doctors-nurses-public-health-leaders-benefits-vaccination.html) signed by influential physicians including CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky notes that myocarditis and pericarditis are far more common among people who catch COVID-19 than among people who get the vaccine. ## **Certain groups seem to be at higher risk** Adolescent boys and young men seem to develop [these side effects](https://time.com/5957222/covid-vaccine-side-effects/) more often than other groups, according to the CDC, and it is more common after a second shot. [In general](https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/myocarditis/)—that is, separate from COVID-19 side effects—men are more likely than women to develop heart inflammation, and it is commonly diagnosed among younger adults. ## **Experts still recommend vaccination** Given the known benefits of COVID-19 vaccination, physicians still recommend the shots for people of all ages. “It is the best way to protect yourself, your loved ones, your community, and to return to a more normal lifestyle safely and quickly,” the group of physicians urged in their joint statement. _This story originally ran in TIME’s Coronavirus Brief newsletter._ ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/6075691/covid-19-vaccines-heart-problems/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/6075691/covid-19-vaccines-heart-problems/"},"headline":"What to Know About COVID-19 Vaccines and Heart Conditions in Younger People","datePublished":"2021-06-25T10:00:20.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-24T10:03:50.704Z","description":"Experts say mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines have a \"likely association\" with heart inflammation, particularly among boys and young men.","url":"https://time.com/6075691/covid-19-vaccines-heart-problems/","keywords":["COVID-19"],"thumbnailUrl":"","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Jamie Ducharme","jobTitle":"Ducharme is a contributor to TIME.","url":"https://time.com/author/jamie-ducharme/"}],"articleSection":"Health","image":[],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/health/","name":"Health"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/covid-19/","name":"COVID-19"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/6075691/covid-19-vaccines-heart-problems/","name":"What to Know About COVID-19 Vaccines and Heart Conditions in Younger People"}}]}] ```