Health officials in the United Kingdom are warning that people who have a "significant history of allergic reactions" should avoid the new coronavirus vaccine developed by Pfizer. The warning comes after two healthcare workers suffered an allergic reaction during the first day of mass vaccinations in the country.
According to the BBC, the two individuals experienced an anaphylactoid reaction to the shot. Symptoms usually include skin rashes, shortness of breath, and a drop in blood pressure. They both had a history of allergies and carried around adrenaline autoinjectors.
Officials said that the two workers received treatment and are recovering.
"As is common with new vaccines, the MHRA [Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency] 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," said Stephen Powis, the national medical director for NHS England. "Both are recovering well."
According to a report by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, there were reports of possible allergic reactions during the clinical trials. An analysis of the data found there was one allergic reaction for every thousand people.
Health officials said that the two allergic reactions are nothing to be alarmed about.
"The fact that we know so soon about these two allergic reactions and that the regulator has acted on this to issue precautionary advice shows that this monitoring system is working well," Peter Openshaw, an expert in immunology at Imperial College London, told the BBC.
Authorities said that going forward, people will be asked about their history of allergies before they are given the vaccine.
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