Sydney woman reveals rare side effect after getting Pfizer vaccine

The ex-girlfriend of model Kris Smith was diagnosed with a rare condition after receiving the Pfizer jab, but still urges Aussies to get vaxxed.

A Network Ten employee who revealed she has been diagnosed with a rare heart condition after receiving the Pfizer jab, has urged Aussies to still get vaccinated.

Hannah Scott, an insights manager at the station who once dated British model Kris Smith, took to her Instagram on Wednesday morning to share she was suffering from pericarditis.

The pericardium is a thin, two-layered, fluid-filled sac that covers the outer surface of the heart and the condition (pericarditis) is inflammation of that outer lining of the organ.

Network 10 employee Hannah Scott revealed she was diagnosed with a rare heart condition after getting her Pfizer Covid shot.

In a lengthy Instagram post from her hospital bed, Ms Scott, who dated Smith in 2017, said she doesn’t “regret” getting jabbed, nor is it her intention to put anyone off from getting vaccinated, Daily Mail Australia reported.

“I’m not posting this for sympathy and I’m certainly not an anti-vaxxer. I’m pro-choice and my choice was to get the vaccine,” she said.

“As a result, I’m in the unfortunate percentile that has been diagnosed with pericarditis (heart inflammation), a rare side effect of Pfizer.”

She said she copped symptoms of the rare heart condition “almost immediately” after getting her first dose of the vaccine, adding that she had pins and needles down her arm and into her hand.

“Cold chills and dizzy spells were regular. I pushed on and four days ago (one week post jab) my heart began racing uncontrollably, making it difficult to slow my heart rate down enough to sleep (my heart is still racing today).”

Ms Scott said she began getting chest pains on Tuesday and that’s when she took herself to the hospital.

Hannah, who dated British model Chris Smith in 2017, is suffering from pericarditis – a rare side effect that results in inflammation of the heart. Picture: Instagram

She shared a photo from her hospital bed with electrocardiogram stickers on her chest.

Ms Scott also explained the reason for her post was not to discourage people from getting vaccinated, but instead to make people aware of symptoms when they do receive it.

“The purpose of this post is to highlight that if you’re feeling any of these symptoms – get checked to be safe, because this side effect is rarely talked about, despite my doctors saying they have been seeing this more frequently of late,” she said.

“I don’t regret my decision as the long term effects of Covid can be far worse and I don’t want to put anyone off getting vaccinated.

“Just to point out that there are vaccine options and to be mindful of your symptoms.”

Hannah, who shared a lengthy post about the rare side effect, is encouraging her followers they should still get jabbed. Picture: Instagram

Ms Scott also added she is expected to make a “full recovery” and has a “new appreciation” for the doctors and nurses who have been treating her.

Channel 7 reporter Denham Hitchcock also recently revealed he too had suffered pericarditis as a result of the jab.

Similar to Ms Scott, Hitchcock also suffered from pins and needles in his hands, shortness of breath and some chest pains.

In his lengthy Instagram post last month, the journalist told his 35,100 followers he’s not anti-vax.

“But I’m really not pro vax either. I’m pro choice – and pro information to make that choice,” he said. “Above all I’m PRO opening the bloody country up and to do that I don’t see any way around getting the majority of Australia vaccinated. So I got the Pfizer shot.”

Hitchcock went into great detail about his symptoms from the rare condition, but later edited the video, reportedly after his employer stepped in and had a word with him.

Last month, Channel 7 reporter Denham Hitchcock also revealed he too had suffered pericarditisas a result of the jab. Picture: Instagram/denhamhitchcock

According to NSW Health, myocarditis or pericarditis can occur separately or together and have been reported as rare side effects after mRNA Covid-19 vaccines, including Pfizer and Moderna.

“Most myocarditis and pericarditis cases linked to mRNA vaccination have been mild and patients have recovered quickly,” the site states.

The extremely rare side effect impacts about one in 74,000 people who receive the Pfizer vaccine. In overseas studies, according to advice from Australia’s Department of Health, it particularly impacts males under 30 years of age after they’ve received their second dose.

Executive director of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Professor Jason Kovacic, told news.com.au that instances of myocarditis and pericarditis after receiving the Pfizer vaccine occur “only very, very rarely”.

“About 60 people per one million can get myocarditis with the mRNA vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) and it is generally a mild, short-lived illness. These complications cause inflammation of the heart muscle or inflammation of the lining around the heart muscle,” Professor Kovacic explained.

“These complications have been reported in just a handful of people around the world and to the best of our knowledge, most of them have recovered. In contrast, (the) risk of having some heart complications if you contract Covid-19 is about 1000 times higher at 5 to 10 per cent.”

It has also been stated that as of July 25, 84 cases of pericarditis have been reported in Australia to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (ATGA) following the Pfizer vaccine.

“It is important to note these are not all necessarily caused by the vaccine as myocarditis and pericarditis occur in the absence of vaccination, for example for people aged 18-34 years the estimated incidence in females is 16 per million (95 per cent prediction interval 8-32), and for males is 37 (16 – 88),” the Guidance on Myocarditis and Pericarditis report explains.