|
 Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA's Center for Biologics
Evaluation and Research, said at a press conference that the
allergic reactions had been reported in more than one state,
including in Alaska.
Marks also said that a chemical called polyethylene glycol (PEG)
that is an ingredient in the Pfizer vaccine - as well as the Moderna
Inc vaccine authorized on Friday - "could be the culprit" causing
the reactions.
Marks said that allergic reactions to PEG could be somewhat more
common than previously understood.
The cases in Alaska were similar to two cases reported last week in
Britain.
Britain's medical regulator has said that anyone with a history of
anaphylaxis, or severe allergic reactions to a medicine or food,
should not be given the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
But the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has said that most
Americans with allergies should be safe to receive the vaccine. It
said only people who have previously had severe allergic reactions
to vaccines or ingredients in this particular vaccine should avoid
getting the shot.
[to top of second column] |
 On Friday, the FDA said the
Moderna vaccine should not be given to
individuals with a known history of a severe
allergic reactions to any components of the
shot.
The regulator is also requiring that appropriate
medical treatments for immediate allergic
reactions must be available when the shot is
administered in case of an anaphylactic
reaction.
Pfizer could not be immediately reached for
comment.
(Reporting by Michael Erman; Editing by Diane
Craft and Daniel Wallis)
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