NHS England have confirmed two healthcare workers who received the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine yesterday suffered an allergic reaction.
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.”
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has advised NHS trusts that anyone who has a history of serious allergic reactions to medicines, food or vaccines should not receive the vaccine.
“Any person with a history of a significant allergic reaction to a vaccine, medicine, or food (such as previous history of anaphylactoid reaction or those who have been advised to carry an adrenaline autoinjector) should not receive the Pfizer/BioNtech vaccine,” according to the advice issued by the MHRA.
The people who suffered the reactions were NHS staff members who received the shot on Tuesday and developed reaction symptoms shortly after.
A Pfizer spokesperson said “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.”
The MHRA have now advised that the Vaccination should only be delivered in facilities where resuscitation measures are available.
