New York Times Credit Dylan Buell/Getty Images
By Sean Mitchell
WASHINGTON – On Jan. 2, 2023, during a Monday Night Football game, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field after making a tackle and suffered cardiac arrest. Medical personnel administered CPR, and he was transported to the hospital in critical condition. The incident drew widespread concern across the sports world and beyond.
In the immediate aftermath, social media and several media outlets were inundated with unfounded claims linking Hamlin’s collapse to complications from COVID-19 vaccines. Some individuals, including public figures, speculated without evidence that vaccine-induced myocarditis caused the cardiac arrest. These assertions were amplified online, spreading misinformation quickly.
Lack of Evidence
At the time, there was no public information about Hamlin’s vaccination status or any preexisting medical conditions that could have contributed to the incident. Speculation without concrete data is both irresponsible and misleading.
Some claims relied on a blog that cited over 1,500 cardiac arrests among European athletes since COVID-19 vaccine rollouts. However, the blog lacked academic credibility, included deaths unrelated to cardiac issues (such as cancer), and failed to demonstrate any causal link between vaccines and cardiac events. Experts condemned the use of such unreliable sources to support misinformation.
Expert Insight
Cardiologists noted that sudden cardiac events have long occurred among athletes, even before the COVID-19 pandemic. Though rare, such incidents are not unprecedented and can result from a variety of factors unrelated to vaccination.
Medical professionals emphasized that there is no evidence linking COVID-19 vaccines to increased rates of cardiac events in athletes. Research found that the rate of inflammatory heart disease among professional athletes who contracted COVID-19 was approximately 0.6% — a rate consistent with other viral infections.
The Cost of Misinformation
The rush to connect Hamlin’s collapse to COVID-19 vaccines underscores the risks of spreading unverified information. It highlights the importance of critically evaluating sources, relying on expert medical analysis, and avoiding premature conclusions. Misinformation can generate unnecessary fear and distract from understanding the real causes behind medical emergencies.
