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Summary
- Regulatory bodies are monitoring the severe allergic reactions to Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.
- The polyethylene glycol component present in the vaccine is suspected to be the cause.
- The CDC has suggested to avoid taking the vaccine shots, if anyone is allergic to any of the vaccine components.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has initiated an investigation into the allergic reactions caused by Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccination. The probe comes after people in various US states reported allergic reactions to the vaccine.
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As per the reports, two health workers in the United Kingdom have experienced an allergic reaction after getting the vaccination. Similar reactions have been reported in Alaska in the US.
The FDA officials opine that the polyethylene glycol component present in the vaccine may be the reason behind all the reactions reported in the US and the UK.
Polyethylene Glycol Also Present in Moderna's Vaccine
The FDA recently issued the Emergency Utilisation Authorisation to the COVID-19 vaccines of Pfizer and Moderna. Both these vaccines contain mRNA and polyethylene glycol (PEG).
The suspicion over the PEG component causing allergic reactions in the Pfizer vaccine is raising similar concerns regarding Moderna's vaccination. It is the first time that PEG has been a part of an approved vaccination. Found in many drugs, the component occasionally triggers anaphylaxis reactions, which are severe life-threatening reactions causing a fast heartbeat, failing blood pressure, shortness of breath, and rashes.
In face of the COVID-19 crisis unleashing massive destruction across the world, a much faster vaccination development process was necessitated and the experts managed to make the vaccines available within a short span of one year. Generally, the development of a vaccine takes much longer, hence, there are doubts over these vaccines among people. Adding to the suspicion, these reported allergic reactions are creating panic among people.
Must read: Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine receives a go-ahead sign from FDA Expert Panel
CDC on Allergic Reactions
Guidelines from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have suggested that if anyone has a history of a serious allergic reaction to any component in a coronavirus vaccine, they must restrict themselves from getting the vaccination.
In other cases, where one is allergic to some other vaccines, one must discuss with the doctor to decide if it is safe for them to go ahead with the COVID-19 vaccine.
The CDC further advises that those who are allergic not to vaccines but to pets, venom, food, latex, or environmental may still get these injection shots to avoid the COVID-19 infection. In case one experiences a serious allergic reaction on getting the first shot, then the CDC recommends them not to get the second one.
The US regulatory bodies like CDC, FDA, and the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) are monitoring the severe allergic reaction cases. The NIAID has had several meetings to discuss the allergic reactions with Pfizer and Moderna representatives, the FDA, and independent scientists and physicians.
Meanwhile, despite an investigation into allergic reactions, President-elect Joe Biden has done his bit to encourage people to take these vaccines, by receiving Pfizer's first vaccine dose live on TV.
