GPs can be reassured that patients who have had myocarditis in the past can safety receive the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine without causing the problem to recur, according to a new small study.

Rare cases of myocarditis following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination, primarily in young males after the second dose, have been reported in the medical literature.

ATAGI guidance published in November last year says patients with myocarditis or pericarditis in the last three months due to causes other than vaccination can have an mRNA vaccine but should consult a GP, immunisation specialist service or cardiologist first.

However, patients with a history of the condition are still refusing to be vaccinated due to fear of myocarditis recurrence, say French researchers.