People with a history of allergic reactions should not take Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine: MHRA

Dec. 10: The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has warned people with a history of allergic reactions not to receive the recently approved Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The MHRA has encouraged anyone who is due to receive the vaccine to continue with their appointment and discuss any questions or medical history of serious allergies before receiving the vaccine.

The advice was issued after the MHRA convened an expert group of the Commission on Human Medicines’ (CHM), which was attended by experts in allergy and clinical immunology. The updated guidance comes following two reports of anaphylaxis and one report of a possible allergic reaction following immunisation with the shot.

“Any person with a history of anaphylaxis to a vaccine, medicine, or food should not receive the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine,” MHRA Chief Executive June Raine said in a statement.