UK Issues Pfizer Vaccine Allergic Reaction Warning
The United Kingdom’s medical regulator is advising those with sensitivities to avoid the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine due to two reported severe allergic reactions during the first round of inoculations. Britain recently approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and began mass distribution to its general population on Tuesday, starting with frontline healthcare workers and the most vulnerable citizens, including the elderly.
Health officials changed their initial vaccine advice after two recipients experienced severe adverse reactions to the injection, among the thousands who received the first round. A precautionary warning has been issued for those who are prone to severe or sudden allergic reactions with the recommendation not to receive this particular vaccine. Last week, Britain’s healthcare regulatory agency was the first in the world to authorize the vaccine for public use and, along with vaccine maker Pfizer-BioNTech, is investigating the adverse reaction data.
The US Food and Drug Administration and the European Union’s Medicines Agency are still in the review process pending approval for its use. The New York Times reported on Monday that the Trump administration failed to secure additional vaccine doses from Pfizer which were offered in quantities greater than the initial 100 million doses the government secured for $1.95 billion several months before clinical trials were complete. On Tuesday, Trump proclaimed no other countries will receive American made vaccines before the United States has what it needs, which appears to have no weight in the situation and will not expand US access to additional vaccine supplies in the near future.
Ann Sullivan is a contributing staff writer covering national and world news topics. She brings dedicated experience having written international and domestic news, blogs, and web content for over 20 years. She’s also a published poet and graphic designer with degrees in Business and Graphic Communications and has been a music distributor, music industry sponsorship sales director and band manager.