December 9, 2020 8:43:41 pm
An anaphylactoid reaction tends to involve a skin rash, shortness of breath, and sometimes a drop in blood pressure, and both NHS workers who experienced this are said to have a history of severe allergies and carry adrenaline pens with them.
Britain’s drug regulator on Wednesday issued a warning that people with a “significant” history of allergic reactions to drugs, foods or vaccines should not receive the Pfizer / BioNTech jab, a day after the first group of patients They were given the first of two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
The warning comes after two National Health Service (NHS) workers experienced symptoms of an “anaphylactoid reaction” shortly after being injected, but are now said to be recovering well.
NHS England said all of its trusts involved with the mass vaccination program have been informed and, as of Wednesday, all patients scheduled to receive the vaccine will be asked if they have a history of allergic reactions.
“As is common with new vaccines, the MHRA has advised as a precaution that people with a significant history of allergic reactions not receive this vaccine after two people with a history of significant allergic reactions responded adversely,” said the professor. Stephen Powis, chief physician of the NHS in England.
An anaphylactoid reaction tends to involve a skin rash, shortness of breath, and sometimes a drop in blood pressure and both NHS workers who experienced this are said to have a history of severe allergies and carry adrenaline pens with them.
“We have been advised by MHRA [Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency] of two yellow card reports that may be associated with an allergic reaction due to the administration of the COVID-19 BNT162b2 vaccine, “said Pfizer UK in a statement.
“As a precautionary measure, the MHRA has issued temporary guidance to the NHS while conducting an investigation to fully understand each case and its causes,” he said.
MHRA Director Dr. June Raine told a joint select committee hearing Tuesday that “real-time surveillance” will continue throughout the vaccine implementation process.
“We know from extensive clinical trials that this [allergy] It was not a characteristic, but if we need to strengthen our advice now that we have had this experience in vulnerable populations, the groups selected as a priority, we get that advice immediately, ”he said.
Experts have indicated that these reactions are to be expected in rare cases with any vaccine, including the annual flu shot.
Several thousand people became the first to get vaccinated against COVID-19 on Tuesday, the day marked V Day or Vaccine Day in the UK.
Indian husband and wife, Hari Shukla, 87, and his wife Ranjan, 83, were among those on the prioritized list of recipients finalized based on those at the highest risk of death from the deadly virus.
The NHS has announced that the vaccination program will be expanded from 50 hospitals to general practitioner (GP) surgeries across the country starting next week. The doses are expected to be delivered to around 200 GP surgeries initially to allow them to begin next Tuesday, when those over 80 will be invited first.
Once the first 200 GPs have received their doses, the program will expand to more than 1,000 surgeries, and each local area will have a designated site.
Nearly 70 hospitals across the UK have received 800,000 doses, and another delivery of more than 1 million is expected to be shipped from Belgium next week to allow the community program to get under way.
By the end of the year, the government expects to have received around 5 million doses in total, enough for 2.5 million people, as two doses of the vaccine are needed for full protection.
Government ministers have hailed the launch as a great success, but cautioned against any easing of the tiered lockdown restrictions that are still in place, as the rate of coronavirus infections remains high in most parts of the UK.
“As the vaccine is rolling out, the best way to reduce anyone’s area across the levels is to continue to abide by the restrictions that unfortunately remain absolutely necessary to keep people safe,” said Health Secretary Matt Hancock.
“Having said that though, because we have a vaccine, the faster we can implement the vaccine, the sooner we can get to the point where we can get rid of the system completely,” he said.
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