From VOA Learning English, this is the Health and Lifestyle report.
When COVID-19 vaccines begin, health workers around the world are on the lookout for any problems that may develop. These side effects, resulting from the vaccine, are expected and unexpected.
Allergic reactions
Recently, two health workers from the state of Alaska have experienced allergic reactions after receiving the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. One had a severe reaction and was hospitalized for observation. The reaction of the second worker was less severe.
Britain recently denounced two similar cases. The Associated Press (AP) reported that these people had severe allergies in the past. As a result, British officials have warned people with a history of severe allergies to medicines that delay vaccination.
U.S. health officials do not offer such a strong warning. U.S. health care workers always ask people about allergies before getting vaccinated. The instructions for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine indicate that it should be avoided if you are severely allergic to any of the ingredients or they have already had a reaction to it.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises people to stay under observation for about 15 minutes after vaccination. People with a history of allergies should stay for 30 minutes. If they have a reaction, they can be treated immediately.
However, doctors said the Alaska health worker who had the severe allergic reaction had no history of allergies. He experienced redness on his face and difficulty breathing 10 minutes after the first shot. You will not be given a second vaccine. The second Alaska worker experienced less severe signs. His eyes turned inflated, his throat scratched, and she felt unstable or bewildered.
Allergic reactions are common with new medications. However, observing COVID-19 vaccines for unexpected side effects is more difficult in this case.
This is due to the large number of people who need to be vaccinated over the next year. Another difficulty is the different types of vaccines that are used at the same time. It is very possible that one vaccine will have different side effects than another.
The first vaccine to be widely used in the United States and many Western countries was made by Pfizer and Germany’s BioNTech. The second vaccine from the company Moderna is expected soon.
Both vaccines were made by the same method. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said huge studies of each have found no significant safety risks.
Dr. Jesse Goodman, of Georgetown University, used to be the FDA’s chief vaccine manager. He told the AP that allergy concern “re-points to the importance of real-time safety Tracking“.
Health officials have several ways to observe how people react to COVID-19 vaccines. The PA said that in the coming months as more people are vaccinated, health officials will create more ways to control reactions to vaccines.
Flu-like side effects
Getting the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine can cause temporary discomfort. This happens with many vaccines.
In addition to arm pain, people may experience high body temperature and other types of flu symptoms. These include extreme tiredness, body aches, feeling cold and headache. These symptoms last about a day. But sometimes they can be serious and cause the person to lose their job. Reports suggest that these symptoms are more common after the second shot and more common in younger people.
COVID-19 vaccines appear to cause more of these reactions than an influenza vaccine. In some people, the reaction is similar to when a person gets the vaccine against the infection called tile.
Coronavirus-like side effect
However, some reactions are similar to the first symptoms of coronavirus. This is one of the reasons why hospitals do not administer the vaccine to all their employees at once. They are giving the vaccines to workers in smaller groups over a longer period of time.
What about serious risks?
The FDA found no serious side effects in tens of thousands of people involved in the studies of the two vaccines.
However, rare but serious side effects sometimes occur when a vaccine is used very widely. This also happens when the vaccine did not pass exact and complete tests.
Dr. Jay Butler of the CDC warned that balancing possible risks “with the benefits the vaccine provided in the pandemic is an ongoing process. “
And this is the Health and Lifestyle report. I’m Anna Matteo.
Anna Matteo adapted this Associated Press story for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. he was the editor.
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Words in this story
allergic –Adj., allergy –N. related to a medical condition that causes someone to get sick after coming into contact with a substance that is harmless to most people
ingredient –N. one of the substances that make up a mixture
inflated –Adj. larger than normal, swollen
scratched –Adj. painful, larger or rougher than normal
monitor –V. look, observe, listen, or check for a special purpose, such as health, over time
discomfort –N. an uncomfortable or painful sensation in the body
symptom –N. a sign of the presence of a disease or problem
benefits –N. good useful or healthy results