Landmark UK Study of 14 Million Children Shows Covid Infection Riskier Than Vaccine
A study of nearly 14 million children in England reveals that Covid infection carries a substantially higher risk of heart complications than vaccination.
HealthGNGV Editorial Team4 min readLast reviewed September 28, 2026
A landmark study involving nearly 14 million children in England — covering 85% of the entire youth population — has compared for the first time the cardiac risks of Covid infection with those linked to vaccination.
The study found that Covid infection came with a "substantially higher risk" of the heart conditions pericarditis and myocarditis compared to immunisation. There were 2.24 extra cases per 100,000 children with Covid compared to 0.85 extra cases in vaccinated youths, and risks after infection lasted much longer.
"Our whole-population study showed that children were more likely to experience heart problems after a Covid-19 infection than after having the vaccine," said Dr. Alexia Sampri from the University of Cambridge.
