Allergic Reactions in UK Healthcare Staff Prompt New COVID Vaccine Warnings

British health regulators have issued a warning that people with a history of “significant” allergic reactions should not receive its newly launch Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.

The warning comes in response to two National Health Service (NHS) workers who received the COVID-19 vaccine on December 8th experiencing allergic reactions. The two individuals, who developed “anaphylactoid reaction” shortly after injection, are now recovering.

The precautions come from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and note that anyone who has a history of “significant” allergic reactions to medicines, food, or vaccines should refuse the vaccine.

Pfizer UK responded to the development, noting the vaccine “may be associated with allergic reaction”:

“We have been advised by MHRA of two yellow card reports that may be associated with allergic reaction due to administration of the COVID-19 BNT162b2 vaccine. As a precautionary measure, the MHRA has issued temporary guidance to the NHS while it conducts an investigation in order to fully understand each case and its causes. Pfizer and BioNTech are supporting the MHRA in the investigation. In the pivotal phase 3 clinical trial, this vaccine was generally well tolerated with no serious safety concerns reported by the independent Data Monitoring Committee. The trial has enrolled over 44,000 participants to date, over 42,000 of whom have received a second vaccination.”