UK regulators monitor two allergic reactions on the first day of Pfizer coronavirus vaccination

LONDON – People with an “important history” of allergic reactions should not receive the new Pfizer-Bioentech vaccine, UK regulators said on Wednesday. They are examining two adverse reactions that occurred on the first day of a mass vaccination program in the country.

Health officials are acting on the recommendation of the Medical and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, said Professor Stephen Powice, National Medical Director of the National Health Service in England.

“After two people with a history of significant allergic reactions reacted negatively yesterday, the MHRA advised on a precautionary basis that people with a significant history of allergic reactions should not receive this vaccine, as is common with new vaccines,” Powice said in a statement. “Both are recovering well.”

MHRA chief Dr June Rain told the parliamentary committee that regulators had received reports of two allergic reactions from the vaccine.

“We know from very extensive clinical trials that this is not a symptom,” she says. “But if we have to strengthen our advice, now that we have this experience with a weaker population, with priority selected groups, we will take that advice to the field immediately.

Rhine’s comments came last week as part of a general discussion on how his agency monitors people who receive the authorized vaccine for emergency use.