While the United States on Wednesday secured a deal with Pfizer Inc. for an additional 100 million doses of its Covid-19 vaccine, the cases of allergic reactions have sparked discussions between vaccine manufacturers and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to conduct clinical analysis. trials in highly allergic populations. According to a CNN report, US President Donald Trump’s Covid-19 vaccine czar said the frequency of allergic reactions to Pfizer’s vaccine is higher than expected.
“That frequency, as it was yesterday (December 22), is higher than what you would expect with other vaccines,” said Dr. Moncef Slaoui, chief scientific advisor to Operation Warp Speed, as quoted by the US media network. .
UK regulators have already issued a notice on the matter, urging people who have a history of “significant” allergic reactions not to get the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) issued precautionary advice to the National Health Service (NHS) after two members of the healthcare staff experienced allergic reactions. Dr. June Raine, executive director of the MHRA, had testified before a parliamentary committee where she acknowledged that cases of allergic reactions were not featured in extensive clinical trials.
“We know from very large clinical trials that this was not a feature. But if we need to strengthen our advice, now that we have had this experience in vulnerable populations, the groups have been selected as a priority, we send that advice to the field immediately, “said Dr. Raine.
The United States has started the immunization campaign against the coronavirus disease after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted emergency use authorization to Pfizer-BioNTech, followed by Moderna. Under the new agreement for additional doses of Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine, the US drugmaker and its German partner BioNTech will deliver at least 70 million doses by June 30, with the remaining doses delivered no later than July 31. .
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