The United Kingdom which is the first country in the world to kick off the administration of Pfizer Vaccine against the coronavirus on Tuesday, has warned her citizen to avoid the Pfizer vaccine, of they have serious allergies.
The warning came on Wednesday, after two NHS workers fell ill. The healthcare workers developed symptoms shortly after having the jab on the first day of the UK’s mass vaccination programme, officials said.
They both have a significant history of allergic reactions – to the extent where they need to carry an adrenaline pen with them, NHS England said.
Officials confirmed the staff members – who were among thousands to get the jab yesterday – are now recovering and all trusts involved in the vaccination programme have been informed.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has given precautionary advice that anyone who has a history of “significant” allergic reactions to medicines, food or vaccines should not receive the vaccine.
“Significant” means a person has suffered anaphylaxis – a potentially life-threatening reaction which can cause breathing difficulties, confusion, vomiting or collapse – or needs to carry an EpiPen.
Anyone scheduled to receive the vaccine on Wednesday will be asked about their history of allergic reactions.
The MHRA advice states: “Any person with a history of a significant allergic reaction to a vaccine, medicine or food (such as the previous history of anaphylactoid reaction or those who have been advised to carry an adrenaline autoinjector) should not receive the Pfizer/BioNtech vaccine.
“Resuscitation facilities should be available at all times for all vaccinations. Vaccination should only be carried out in facilities where resuscitation measures are available.”
Professor Stephen Powis, national medical director for the NHS in England, said:
“As is common with new vaccines the MHRA have advised on a precautionary basis that people with a significant history of allergic reactions do not receive this vaccination after two people with a history of significant allergic reactions responded adversely yesterday.
“Both are recovering well.”
Some of the most common allergies, according to the NHS, are to foods like nuts, fruit, shellfish, eggs and cow’s milk, and medicines – such as ibuprofen, and antibiotics, such as penicillin.
The two NHS staff members were among thousands of Brits who became the first people in the world to receive the Pfizer vaccine yesterday.
Elderly British patients who were first in line to get the jab urged sceptics to take the vaccine for the good of the country.