The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is investigating around five serious allergic reactions that occurred after people were administered the Pfizer and BioNTech SE coronavirus vaccine in the country this week.
In a press meeting, Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said that allergic reactions had been reported in more than one state, including Alaska.
Peter Marks further added that a chemical called polyethylene glycol (PEG) that is an ingredient in the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine, as well as the Moderna vaccine licensed on Friday, “could be to blame” for the reactions.
He said that allergic reactions to PEG may be somewhat more common than previously thought.
An Alaskan health worker had a severe allergic reaction after receiving the vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech. The adverse reaction in the person, minutes after receiving the injection from Pfizer, was similar to two cases reported last week in Britain.
Anyone with anaphylaxis should not receive the Pfizer vaccine
The UK medical regulator has said that anyone with a history of anaphylaxis or severe allergic reactions to drugs or food should not receive the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine.
But the US FDA has said that most Americans with allergies should be sure to get the vaccine. He said that only people who have previously had severe allergic reactions to vaccines or the ingredients in this particular vaccine should avoid getting the injection.
Furthermore, symptoms in a middle-aged patient resolved after receiving epinephrine for allergy treatment.
Earlier on Friday, the US FDA said the Moderna vaccine should not be given to people with a known history of a serious allergic reaction to any component of the injection.
The US drug regulator also requires that appropriate medical treatments for immediate allergic reactions be available when the injection is given in the event of an anaphylactic reaction.
With contributions from the agency
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