British regulator issues allergy warning over Covid-19 vaccine

The British medicines regulator has advised people with a “significant” history of allergies not to receive the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine after two front-line health workers suffered allergic reactions to the shot.

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 be given the shot. This means people who have a previous history of anaphylactic reactions or those who have been told to carry an adrenaline autoinjector should not receive the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. 

In a statement, the medical director of England’s National Health Service (NHS) Stephen Powis said the advice came after two people with a history of serious allergies had fallen ill. Such precautionary advice from the MHRA was standard practice, he added.

“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,” he said.

Both patients, were “recovering well,” he added. All hospitals involved with the vaccination programme have been informed and patients who are scheduled to receive the vaccine will be asked about their history of allergic reactions before being given the jab.
-DPA