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December 11, 2020 – 7:39 am Watch
Two people were allergic to the Biontech-Pfizer vaccine
As soon as the first corona vaccines began in Britain on Tuesday, two people showed allergic reactions to the Biontech and Pfizer vaccine. The British Medicines Agency now warns allergy sufferers against vaccination. But what allergies are referred to here exactly?
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Both patients from the UK are extremely susceptible to allergies.
Shortly after the start of the vaccination campaign in Britain, two employees of the NHS ‘national health service had shown allergic reactions and had to be treated, announced the head of the NHS, Stephen Powis. “They are both recovering well.” However, UK drug regulatory authorities took immediate action and advised against injecting the Biontech Pfizer vaccine into anyone with a “significant” allergy history.
According to Powis, the two patients are so susceptible to allergies that they always carry an emergency kit with adrenaline, the so-called EpiPen. This injection of adrenaline constricts the blood vessels and widens the airways in the event of an allergic shock.
Which allergy sufferers are affected by the warning?
Although the two patients are difficult cases, they are now officially warned not to vaccinate anyone who has had significant allergic reactions to the following in the past:
- Vaccinations
- drug
- Food
The warning is purely a precautionary measure that is common with new vaccines, Powis said.
Medical expert Dr. Woodpecker: Allergic reactions were expected.
“These reports were to be expected and there will be more,” explains general practitioner Dr. Christoph Specht in the RTL interview: “If you vaccinate so many people, the probability is high. Now you will have to carefully examine the history.”
The vaccine does not necessarily have to be responsible for the allergic reaction. If so, the doctor sees a possible cause for the two people’s allergic reaction in the substance “polyethylene glycol,” or PEG for short, which is used in many ways, including antifreeze. PEG is used in small amounts in the vaccine. It acts like a shell around the fragile mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid) so that the body does not break it down too quickly and the body can form antibodies against the virus. An allergy to PEG is not surprising. However, not everyone with allergies should automatically be allergic to the substance.
No “serious security concerns”
Biontech and Pfizer were informed of the allergic reactions and announced their support. As the two drug companies stated, the vaccine was “generally” well tolerated during the most recent clinical study involving more than 40,000 subjects. No “serious security problems” were reported.
However, according to the study protocol published by Pfizer, the fundamental research did not include participants with a history of serious adverse reactions associated with a vaccine and / or serious allergic reactions to any of the study ingredients.
Are allergic reactions also a problem in Germany?
The experience of Great Britain could also influence the use of the vaccine in Germany: “There may be the same recommendation not to vaccinate allergy sufferers,” said Dr Woodpecker. “This is one of the reasons why it is an advantage that there are different vaccines against SARS-CoV-2. The Biontech Pfizer vaccine may not be suitable for allergy sufferers, but it is different. Before each vaccination, you are asked on allergies. Connections to possible side effects now need to be looked at gradually. “
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