12 and older should get COVID vaccination

South Carolina DHEC announces support of a U-S Department of Health and Human Services recommendation for children 12 and older and young adults to get their COVID-19 vaccination.  The federal department, along with doctors, nurses and parents joined the CDC and the American Heart Association, among others, on a joint statement on rare cases of mild heart inflammation that some young people have experienced after getting their vaccination.  Their statement acknowledged reported cases of inflammation of the heart muscle and surrounding tissue called myocarditis and pericarditis following vaccination.  The  heart risks from COVID are more common and more severe.  The overwhelming majority of cases among vaccinated individuals result in mild symptoms, and recovery from these symptoms usually requires little or no treatment.  Given the continued rise in the spread of the Delta variant, it’s more important than ever for everyone to get vaccinated.