The PEG- Corriere.it nanoparticles could trigger allergic reactions.

The substance behind the allergic reactions that some people have developed after receiving the Covid vaccine from Pfizer. This would be the compound of ‘polyethylene glycol’, also known as PEG.

Common compound in cosmetics

Although the health authorities are still investigating, as is the pharmacist itself, we know that PEG may be associated, in an unusual way, with allergic reactions, as confirmed by Peter Marks, director of the Center for Product Evaluation and Research. biological of Food and Drug Administration United States (FDA). These allergic reactions can be a bit more common than the very rare ones, which normally exist. The compound is located in shampoos, toothpastes and many other products. Some people may be more susceptible because they have high levels of antibodies against PEG. In the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, PEG is part of the fatty envelope that surrounds messenger RNA, the main ingredient in the vaccine. Once the mRNA enters cells, it teaches them to make a protein that resembles the spike protein found on the surface of the coronavirus. This induces a specific immune response that strengthens the body’s defenses when exposed to the real virus. The fatty envelope that contains PEG helps ensure that mRNA passes through the cell membrane. PEG has never been used in an approved vaccine before, but it is found in many medications. Studies in the next few weeks will be done in people who have high levels of anti-PEG antibodies or who have experienced severe allergic reactions to medications or vaccines in the past.

Cases of allergic reaction

Anaphylactic reactions can occur with any vaccine, but are generally extremely rare – about 1 in 1 million doses. However, by December 19, the United States had seen 6 cases of anaphylaxis of 272,001 people who received the vaccine and the UK recorded 2. In the Phase 3 studies that led to the approval of the vaccines, people with a history of allergies to vaccine components were excluded, a subset of people who so it may have been underrepresented. A growing number of biopharmaceuticals include PEG. According to a 2016 study conducted at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 72% of people have at least some antibodies to PEGs. , presumably due to exposure to cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. About 7% have a level that may be high enough to predispose them to anaphylactic reactions.

Recommendations

However, there are still no certainties but only assumptions: some scientists point out that the amount of PEG in mRNA vaccines is less than that contained in most drugs. Meanwhile, alternatives to PEG are being studied, but the vaccination campaign is not stopping, also because the benefits outweigh the risks and everyone affected by an allergic reaction has recovered. The guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) USA recommends not giving the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines to anyone with a history of severe allergic reaction to any component of the vaccine. There is no reason why people have a history of allergic reactions. mild or severe for food, pets, oral medications, or environmental allergens, however, they shouldn’t get the vaccine, says the CDC. And people who may be at high risk for an anaphylactic reaction should stay at the vaccination site for 30 minutes after the injection (and not just the 15 “fees”).