While the United States on Wednesday secured a deal with Pfizer Inc. for an additional 100 million doses of its Covid-19 vaccine, cases of allergic reactions would have led to discussions between vaccine manufacturers and the National Institutes of Health. Health (NIH) to perform test tests in very allergic populations. According to a CNN report, US President Donald Trump’s Covid-19 vaccine czar said the frequency of allergic reactions to the Pfizer vaccine is higher than expected.
“This frequency, as it was yesterday (December 22), is higher than you would expect with other vaccines,” said Dr. Moncef Slaoui, chief scientific advisor to Operation Warp Speed, according to the US media network.
UK regulators have already issued a statement on the subject, urging people with a history of “significant” allergic reactions not to get the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) issued preventive counseling to the National Health Service (NHS) after two members of the health team experienced allergic reactions. Dr. June Raine, chief executive of the MHRA, testified before a parliamentary committee, where she acknowledged that cases of allergic reactions did not appear in extensive clinical trials.
“We know, through very extensive clinical tests, that this was not a resource. But if we need to strengthen our council, now that we have had this experience in vulnerable populations – groups have been selected as a priority – we send that advice to the field immediately, ”said Dr. Raine.
The United States began the immunization campaign against coronavirus disease after the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) granted emergency use authorization to Pfizer-BioNTech, followed by Moderna. Under the new agreement for additional doses of Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine, the American drugmaker and its German partner BioNTech will deliver at least 70 million doses by June 30, with the remaining doses delivered by July 31.