Patient in Georgia, Health Worker in New York Suffer Anaphylaxis After Getting Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine

by TVR Staff

Published December 28, 2020 | Vaccination, Risk & Failure Reports

On Dec. 22, 2020, a patient at Decatur Morgan Hospital in Decatur, Alabama suffered a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis just minutes after receiving Pfizer/BioNTech’s experimental messenger RNA (mRNA) BNT162b2 vaccine for COVID-19.^{1 2 3}

In a press release, the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) stated the patient, who reportedly had a history of allergic reactions, was “immediately treated with anaphylaxis protocol at Decatur Morgan Hospital where the vaccine was administered” and was in stable condition and appeared to be recovering. “As required by the emergency use authorization (EUA) the adverse reaction has been documented and reported to the manufacturer,” the ADPH confirmed.^{1 2 3}

According to Karen Landers, MD of the ADPH, examples of anaphylaxis symptoms, which can be life-threatening, are tightness in the chest, coughing, wheezing, swelling of the lips and tightness in the throat.^{4 5} The National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC) notes that other symptoms of anaphylaxis may include hives, hypotension (low blood pressure) and shock.⁶

Multiple Cases of Anaphylaxis After COVID-19 Vaccination Reported in U.S.

There have been multiple reports of anaphylaxis in following administration of the first of two scheduled doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine during the past month and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is investigating these cases to determine the cause of the severe allergic reactions.^{7 8 9 10}

Peter Marks, MD, PhD, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, has suggested the “culprit” behind the reactions could be a chemical ingredient called polyethylene glycol (PEG)—a polymer derived from petroleum used as an excipient (a diluting agent) in both the BNT162b2 vaccine and Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine known as mRNA-1273.^{7 11 12}

On Dec. 23, another case of anaphylaxis following vaccination with the BNT162b2 vaccine was reported in New York City. The case involved a health care worker who suffered a “significant allergic reaction.” The individual, who works for the Mount Sinai Health System, was reported to be in stable condition and recovering.^{13 14 15 16}

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  ADPH, Alabama Department of Public Health, anaphylaxis, BioNTech, BNT162b2, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, COVID-19, Decatur Morgan Hospital, FDA, Food and Drug Administration, Karen Landers, Marco Cáceres, mRNA-1273, National Vaccine Information Center, New York City, NVIC, PEG, Peter Marks, Pfizer, polyethylene glycol, The Vaccine Reaction

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