Risk of ignoring COVID-19 vaccine adverse effects
Managing adverse events in clinical medicine is a routine part of risk/benefit analysis. The fact that there are risks does not mean an intervention is not a significant value. The same principles apply to COVID-19 vaccination.
Large portions of the population have already been vaccinated so it is essential to have a good understanding of possible medium and long term adverse events.
COVID-19 is an unusual viral infection in that the primary mechanism leading to severe disease is linked to triggering immune dysregulation. It means there is also potential for longer term autoimmune complications in long covid and post vaccination.
In high risk groups for severe COVID-19, those adverse events may be small enough to accept, but it needs much more careful consideration in low risk groups.
For example, anticoagulants may cause excessive bleeding, but it does not preclude their use. It just means a more cautious and targeted approach to therapy.
The biggest danger is to ignore the full extent of vaccine related adverse events because it is politically inconvenient.
There may be investigations or interventions that can identify and prevent longer term complications.
In order to see, we have to look.