The UK regulator is warning that peopl who have a history of “significant” allergic reactions should not currently receive the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine after two people who had the jab on Tuesday had allergic reactions.
Two NHS staff members who received the vaccine on the first day of the mass vaccination programme suffered an allergic reaction, NHS in England has confirmed.
NHS England said all trusts involved with the vaccination programme have been informed and from Wednesday, all patients scheduled to receive the Pfizer vaccine will be asked if they have a history of allergic reactions.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has given precautionary advice to NHS trusts that anyone who has a history of “significant” allergic reactions to medicines, food or vaccines should not receive the vaccine.
Their advice states: “Any person with a history of a significant allergic reaction to a vaccine, medicine or food (such as a 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.”
Meanwhile the regulator has confirmed that it will examine all the data from trials of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Oxford and AstraZeneca, including which dosing regimen is best to use.
“Our regulatory review is all encompassing. We will look at all available data,” June Raine, chief executive of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), told lawmakers after a study showed the vaccine had efficacy of 62% for trial participants given two full doses, but 90% for a smaller sub-group given a half, then a full dose.
