The data are very preliminary, but it appears that severe side effects occur much more frequently with the Pfizer COVID vaccine than happens after a flu shot is given to patients. The CDC says its safety monitoring has detected 21 cases of anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction, after receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. There were eight allergic reactions to the Moderna vaccine. The CDC said the information came from nearly 1.9 million vaccinations and covered the period from December 14 to 23.
This equates to 11.1 severe reactions for every million vaccinations, compared to 1.3 reactions for every million flu vaccinations.
The CDC assured the public that the rate of serious reactions is still considered ‘rare’.
USA Today:
“We all hope that any vaccine will have no adverse events, but even in 11 cases per million doses administered – it is a very safe vaccine,” she said.
In 86% of cases, the symptoms started within 30 minutes after vaccination, and 81% of them occurred in people with a history of allergies or allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. Most of the patients who reported having this severe allergic reaction – 90% – were women.
Up to 20 percent of people who are vaccinated experience mild side effects, including redness around the injection site, low-grade fever, chills and headaches. The CDC recommends those who are allergic to drugs or food not to get the Pfizer vaccine.
Anaphylaxis is a serious, life-threatening allergic reaction and requires immediate medical attention, according to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology. Symptoms may include rash, nausea, vomiting, difficulty breathing and shock. The most common anaphylactic reactions are to food, insect stings, medication and latex.
The CDC said it would continue to monitor for adverse events, including anaphylaxis, and regularly assess the benefits and risks of vaccination. However, the COVID-19 vaccine remains an “important tool in efforts to control the pandemic.”
The CDC says that as of 4 Wednesday, 4.8 million people received a COVID shot. There are no deaths associated with any vaccine.
Statistics so far indicate that if you are allergic to anything, wait until you get the COVID vaccine. This is the CDC’s recommendation, but the reason to wait – especially if you are at low risk for serious diseases – is that later versions of these vaccines may be much less toxic to some people’s immune systems. The anaphylactic reaction is due to the body’s immune system shedding excess. Future vaccines may not affect people with such sensitivity.
This rate of severe reactions is likely to decrease once the vaccine is distributed more widely. It is still a good choice if you are very susceptible to COVID.