Coronavirus vaccine: Dr Sarah offers advice on ‘reactions’
Coronavirus vaccine efforts kicked off in the UK yesterday, as the country delivered the first doses to vulnerable Brits. Over 80s in hospital care received one of the two doses required for full immunity, with ministers hailing the drive a success. But two healthcare workers who took the jab experienced anaphylactic reactions, something unexpected by its developers.
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Pfizer developed one of the three most complete jabs amid the Covid crunch, delivering a treatment which grants 95 percent protection from the virus according to early data.
Their early tests discovered more than 40,000 people tolerated the vaccine “well”, but wider application was likely to find reaction outliers.
The reactions have forced the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to issue precautionary advice for NHS trusts, warning them against giving it to people who have “significant” allergic reactions.
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In this case, “significant” means those who already experience anaphylactic reactions to other stimuli.
Anyone who has reactions like this should know already, as the two health workers did.
Both had adrenaline auto-injectors – which combat anaphylaxis – on them to prevent such situations already.
Their reaction was also “anaphylactoid” – a severe reaction to a new substance inside the body.
Officials have taken steps to ensure others don’t experience this type of reaction.
June Raine, Chief Executive of the MHRA, said they would change their advice if necessary.
She said: “Last evening, we were looking at two case reports of allergic reactions.
“We know from the very extensive clinical trials that this wasn’t a feature.”
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“But if we need to strengthen our advice, now that we’ve had this experience in the vulnerable populations, the groups who have been selected as a priority, we get that advice to the field immediately.”
The NHS national medical director has also dispelled worries about the jab.
Professor Stephen Powis said the decision to put forward new advice like this is “common”.
He added they have come into place on a “precautionary basis” for those with “a significant history of allergic reactions”.
They will now not receive the Pfizer vaccine, but the immunisation plan will continue.
Health workers issued thousands of initial doses yesterday, and those who have already received one will go back for another to attain full immunity.
The Government’s current plan is to have every vulnerable person fully inoculated by next year.
They ordered 400,000 doses of the Pfizer jab, with more likely to come soon.
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