When the UK began giving people the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, four people who received the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine in the company’s trial developed Bell’s palsy, a form of temporary facial paralysis, according to the regulators report. from USA
Regulators at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said there was no clear way the vaccine caused Bell’s palsy, but warned that doctors should be on the lookout for the alarming side effect and that Pfizer should continue to monitor how many people it affects.
Bell’s palsy is a condition that causes temporary weakness or paralysis of the facial muscles. It can usually occur when a nerve that controls muscles becomes inflamed, swollen, or compressed.
Meanwhile, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said the company didn’t “cut any corners” while launching the vaccines.
The vaccine “has been tested in exactly the same way that we are testing any vaccine that is out there,” Bourla said, adding that “this vaccine was actually tested, due to scrutiny, to even higher standards in terms of how to do things. “
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine comes even as coronavirus-related deaths continue to rise worldwide with more than 1.5 victims and more than 65 million cases.
“There are always people who are skeptical about vaccines, but I have to say they are wrong,” said the Pfizer CEO.
However, documents released by US regulators on Tuesday confirmed that Pfizer’s vaccine strongly protected against COVID-19 and appeared safe, offering the world’s first detailed look at the evidence behind the injections.
The positive review from the Food and Drug Administration sets the stage for a decision that will allow initial use of the vaccine in a few days. FDA regulators posted their analysis online, even as Britain began vaccinating its older citizens with the vaccines on the other side of the Atlantic, which were developed jointly with BioNTech.
(With inputs from agencies)
.
