WASHINGTON: Almost 4,400 adverse events were reported after people received the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine in the USA, with 21 cases determined to be anaphylaxis, according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
O US Food and Drug Administration issued an Emergency Use Authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine on December 11, 2020, administered in two separate doses for 21 days, reports the Xinhua news agency.
As of December 23, 2020, a total of 1,893,360 first doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine were administered in the U.S., according to the CDC report.
Reports of 4,393 adverse events were submitted to the country’s Vaccine Adverse Event Notification System.
Among them, 175 case reports were identified for further review as possible cases of severe allergic reaction, including anaphylaxis.
Twenty-one cases were determined to be anaphylaxis, including 17 in people with a documented history of allergies or allergic reactions, seven of whom had a history of anaphylaxis, according to the CDC.
Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening allergic reaction that occurs rarely after vaccination, usually starting within minutes to hours, said the CDC.
Sites that administer Covid-19 vaccines must adhere to CDC guidelines for the use of jabs, including screening containers for contraindications and precautions, have the necessary supplies available to manage anaphylaxis, implement post-vaccination observation periods recommended and immediately treat suspected cases of anaphylaxis with intramuscular injection of epinephrine, said the CDC.
