An Alaskan health worker was adversely affected by allergies after acquiring Pfizer Inc and BioNTech corona-virus
vaccine, but it is now stable, public health authorities said Wednesday.
The man’s side effects, minutes after he was shot Pfizer on Tuesday, were similar to two cases reported last week in Britain.
The British medical regulator has said that anyone with a history of anaphylaxis, or a severe allergic reaction to medication or food, should not get the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
But the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has said most Americans with allergies should be safe to be vaccinated. He said only people who have had a severe allergic reaction to vaccines or ingredients in this particular vaccine should avoid getting the picture.
The Alaskan patient had no history of allergic reactions, Lindy Jones, director of the emergency department in the Juneau capital where the patient was treated, told reporters at a briefing meeting.
The symptoms in the middle-aged patient after being administered epinephrine determined allergy treatment, Jones said.
The patient was still in Junelett Bartlett Regional Hospital being examined Wednesday.
Pfizer said the vaccine comes with a clear warning that appropriate treatment and medical guidance should be readily available in case of fear of anaphylaxis, but that it would update the labeling language for the vaccine if needed.
Vaccination administration began Monday in the United States, following an emergency use permit last week. Early doses were set aside for health care workers and nursing home residents
Former FDA scientist Jesse Goodman called the reaction a sensational response but said more information was needed to better understand the risks.
“We need to know what the nominee is – how many doses have been given? Is this going to be something to be seen at a higher incidence with this vaccine than with others?” Goodman said. “We need to find out what it is to see if that changes proposals or how this will be used.”