The United Kingdom was the first western nation out the starting blocks, when it began COVID vaccinating on 8 December 2019. There was a ripple of concern when two National Health Service (NHS) workers had allergic reactions. It transpired the UK health workers reacted to the Pfizer vaccine by having anaphylactoid reactions. And this is a rare event that happens with all new medications.
What Is This Response and How does It Happen?
Anaphylactoid reactions are allergic responses that come on suddenly but are short-lived. Symptoms may include itchy rashes, throat or tongue swelling, shortness of breath, and low blood pressure. Insect bites and stings, foods, and medications may bring them on, and now it seems the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID jab too.
The symptoms may only last a few minutes to hours, but it’s a scary thing to happen. This is not the same as anaphylaxis, which is a more serious medical condition.
The UK health workers reacted to Pfizer vaccine, but they had the benefit of understanding what was happening. That’s because they both had a history of serious allergies, and carried adrenaline pens around with them. Adrenaline is the primary treatment for the reaction, and there is no absolute contraindication to its use.
Two UK Health Workers Reacted to Pfizer Vaccine What’s Next?
UK regulators say people with histories of significant allergic reactions should not have the Pfizer vaccine. Stephen Powis, medical director for NHS in England, said both individuals were recovering well. We understand anaphylactoid reactions are uncommon, but they do happen even with annual flu jabs.
BBC science and health correspondent James Gallagher says ‘this is a story to assess with your head and not your gut’. All medical preparations including vaccines have side effects among some people, he explains. In fact, the trials reported the possibility of one allergic reaction per thousand inoculations. And the UK administered thousands of these on that day.
Related
Proven Facts About The Coronavirus Vaccine
Don’t Drop Your Guard On the COVID Yet
Preview Image: How Allergy Develops
