An Alaska-based healthcare worker had a severe allergic reaction on Tuesday, minutes after he had taken a shot of the COVID-19 vaccine Pfizer and BioNTech. However, public service authorities report that the person is in a stable situation since.
Two similar cases have been reported in the UK where the same COVID vaccine Pfizer and BioNTech are being used. Earlier, Britain’s medical regulator had said that anyone with anaphylaxis or other severe food-related allergies should avoid getting Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
But the US Food and Health Administration has said that most American with allergies should be safe to receive the vaccine. However, it said that only people who are allergic to vaccines in general or any ingredient present in the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine should avoid taking the shot.
The Alaskan health worker who took the shot had no history of allergies, Lindy Jones, the director of the emergency department in the capital Juneau where the patient was treated, told reporters at a virtual briefing. The patient is still in Juneau’s Bartlett Regional Hospital where she is being monitored.
Pfizer had cleared out earlier that anyone who is using the vaccine needs appropriate medical treatment and supervision in case of anaphylaxis.
"What we need to know is what the denominator is - how many doses have been given? Is this going to be something that's going to be seen at a higher incidence with this vaccine than with others?" Former FDA Chief Scientist Jesse Goodman said.
He noted the allergic reaction and said that the situation is concerning, adding that more information is needed to understand the risks properly.
"We're going to have to find out those things to inform whether that changes recommendations or how this is used."
