NEW YORK (Reuters) – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is investigating approximately five allergic reactions that occurred after people were given the COVID-19 vaccine by Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE in the United States this week. , a senior FDA official said Friday.
Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biological Assessment and Research, said at a news conference that allergic reactions had been reported in more than one state, including Alaska.
Marks also said a chemical called polyethylene glycol (PEG) that is an ingredient in the Pfizer vaccine – as well as the Modern Inc vaccine approved on Friday – “could be the culprit” in causing the reactions.
Marks said allergic reactions to PEG could be a little more frequent than previously understood.
The cases in Alaska were similar to two cases reported last week in Britain.
The British 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 most Americans with allergies should be safe to get the vaccine. It was said that only people who have previously had severe allergic reactions to the vaccines or ingredients of that particular vaccine should avoid the vaccine.
On Friday, the FDA said the Modern vaccine should not be given to people with a known history of severe allergic reactions to any component of the vaccine.
The regulator also requires that appropriate medical treatments be available for immediate allergic reactions when the shot is administered in the event of an anaphylactic reaction.
Pfizer could not be reached immediately for comment.
Reports by Michael Erman; Edited by Diane Craft and Daniel Wallis