Today the CDC put out a statement with new guidelines related to a handful of severe allergic reactions to the COVID-19 vaccines.
The CDC considers an allergic reaction to be severe when a person requires treatment with epinephrine, or if they need hospitalization. As of yesterday at least 128,000 people have been vaccinated in the United States. Of these, thus far, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has said it is investigating five such severe reactions to the Pfizer vaccine. Two were from Alaska.
While the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research is unsure what caused the severe reactions at this time, the director, Peter Marks, said a chemical called polyethylene glycol “could be the culprit.” This chemical is in both the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
When the FDA approved the Moderna vaccine on Friday for emergency use they stipulated that it should not be given to individuals with a known history of severe allergic reactions to any components of the vaccine.
New Guidelines
In these guidelines the CDC also recommends that if you have ever had a severe allergic reaction to any other vaccine you should first ask a doctor before getting inoculated. Also if you have a severe reaction after the first shot of these two round vaccines, you should not get the second.
The CDC has also provided recommendations to providers of the vaccine so they may be properly prepared for severe allergic reactions. Everyone who receives the shot should be monitored on-site for at least 15 minutes. Those with a history of severe allergic reactions should be monitored for 30 minutes. Providers should also have the appropriate equipment to monitor your vitals and treat such a reaction if it occurs.
Finally if you do experience a severe reaction the provider should provide rapid care and call for emergency medical services. You should be monitored at a medical facility for several hours after such a reaction.
The CDC continues to monitor for reports of serious allergic reactions to see if there are any events that are unexpected, happen more often than expected, or have unusual patterns. The reports will be sent by providers to the Vaccine Adverse Reporting System (VAERS).
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