A compound known as polyethylene glycol It may be responsible for some of the allergic reactions seen in people receiving coronavirus vaccines, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration official said Friday.
At least three cases of anaphylaxis – A severe allergic reaction – the first week of the launch of the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine has been reported in the US, as well as two in the UK. All cases reported in health workers have been resolved with prompt treatment and doctors say allergic reactions to any vaccine can be expected.
Dr. Peter Marks, who heads the FDA’s Center for Biological Product Evaluation and Research, said at Friday’s briefing that the FDA was investigating which component of the vaccine could cause an allergic reaction . He said the FDA was investigating five possible cases of an allergic reaction.
“It is known that one of the components in both vaccines, polyethylene glycol, can rarely be associated with allergic reactions,” Marks said.
These allergic reactions may be more common than previously thought, he added, saying people are exposed to polyethylene glycol in pharmaceuticals, including intestinal preparations and laxatives.
“It simply came to our notice then. And that is why we will be watching very closely when we see that the Modern vaccine is being developed, “he said.
The FDA on Friday granted emergency use authorization for Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine and demanded that administration sites have treatments available for anaphylaxis.