Anyone with a history of anaphylaxis to medicine or food should not get the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, the United Kingdom’s medicine regulator said on Wednesday expanding its guidance on an earlier allergy warning about the shot.
“Any person with a history of anaphylaxis to a vaccine, medicine or food should not receive the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine,” June Raine, chief executive of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said in a statement.
“A second dose should not be given to anyone who has experienced anaphylaxis following administration of the first dose of this vaccine.”
Meanwhile, a top US government scientist also said that if the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) decides to approve the vaccine, it will probably ask people with a known history of severe allergic reactions to not take it.
The UK became the first country in the world to begin vaccinations against COVID-19 this week, but after reports of three possible allergic reactions from people who had their shots on the first day of the mass vaccination programme warned those with a “significant allergic reaction” to vaccines, medicines or food should not get the inoculation.
The earlier warning did not mention anaphylaxis, which is a severe and potentially life-threatening reaction to a trigger, usually foods including milk, nuts and shellfish, as well medicines like aspirin. Other triggers include bee stings and latex.
Symptoms of anaphylaxis include feeling faint, having difficulty breathing and a fast heartbeat. A patient may also develop a rash. The reaction requires immediate treatment and many people who suffer severe allergies usually carry adrenaline auto-injectors.
The MHRA approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for emergency use last week, paving the way for the start of a UK-wide vaccination programme on Tuesday.The agency said it was updating its guidance after two cases of anaphylaxis and one report of a possible allergic reaction following immunisation. Source: https://www.daily-bangladesh.com/
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