Allergy risk on Pfizer jab after TWO V-Day patients fall ill: UK regulators warn people with history of 'significant' allergic reactions should NOT have Covid vaccine
Two NHS staff members who received the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine on Tuesday suffered an allergic reaction, the NHS in England has confirmed.Both are recovering following the first day of the mass vaccination programme, it is understood.
The NHS in England said all trusts involved with the vaccination programme have been informed.
Two NHS staff members who received the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine on Tuesday suffered an allergic reaction, the NHS in England has confirmed. Both are recovering following the first day of the mass vaccination programme, it is understood.
The NHS in England said all trusts involved with the vaccination programme have been informed.
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 receive the vaccine.
Professor Stephen Powis, national medical director for the NHS in England, said: '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. Both are recovering well.'
V-Day heroes last night urged vaccine sceptics to have the Covid jab for the good of the country ahead of the arrival of more than a million more doses of the Pfizer vaccine next week.
Thousands of elderly British patients made history yesterday by being the first in the world to get the injection outside of medical trials.
The national vaccination drive was launched at 70 UK hospitals, with most doses given to the over-80s. Margaret Keenan, a Coventry grandmother, was first in line, declaring: 'If I can have it at 90, then you can have it too.'
Lyn Wheeler, 81, who was given the Pfizer jab in front of Boris Johnson at Guy's in London, called for everyone to do their duty so normal life can resume.
'It's all for Britain,' she added. 'I'm going for it because I feel there's no other way forward. We can't keep sitting in our houses.'
The PM said: 'You have seen Lyn take it, you have seen people take the vaccine this morning in large numbers. There's nothing to be nervous about. To all those who are scared – don't be.'
Day one saw around 5,000 people vaccinated, including the elderly, care home staff and NHS workers.
An initial 800,000 doses are being rolled out in the coming days and Health Secretary Matt Hancock has promised millions more before Christmas.
© By James Gant For Mailonline