Allergic reactions remain ‘rare’ for COVID vaccine

Nuvance Health officials said COVID-19 vaccine distribution is “going smoothly,” despite minor bumps in the road.

Nuvance Health is vaccinating approximately 775 individuals a day across its four Connecticut hospitals after beginning distribution on Dec. 18., according to System Chair of Primary Care Dr. Cornelius Ferreira. He said the hospitals were well-prepared for the vaccines and have not seen any doses spoil or go to waste.

While most of those vaccinated did not experience any issues, “probably five or less” equating to approximately .2 percent of individuals experienced allergic reactions, according to Ferreira. Physicians were able to immediately treat even those who might have had a “significant anaphylactic” reaction.

Reports of allergic reactions to the COVID vaccines have popped up around the world, but they remain rare, according to Yale Department Chair and Professor of Epidemiology Dr. Albert Ko.

“These are exceedingly rare types of reactions given up to 6.7 to seven million people have been vaccinated just in the United States,” Ko said.

According to Ko, “even the best vaccines we have aren’t 100 percent” effective but the COVID-19 vaccines have been proven to have a strong efficacy rate. While not all will be protected, 95 percent will be protected against severe disease, he expects.

Ko added that although it is not exactly clear what is causing these “very rare allergic reactions,” it is presumably due to some component of the vaccine.

“These vaccines are made out of RNA molecules, as well as some lipids, some many people already have in their bodies, that package the RNA when they deliver. It is not unlike lipids you would see in eggs or commonly eaten foods,” Ko said.

Ferreira also said some people reported symptoms, such as headache, fatigue and arm soreness after the initial dose that grew worse, escalating to a fever after receiving a second dose. All of the reported symptoms are the same as noted in the clinical trials, Ferreira noted Friday.

In response to follow-up questions about the aforementioned symptoms, Nuvance spokesperson Amy Forni said the hospitals “only just started giving second doses last week” and does not have data to share. The previous comments were referencing data from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna clinical trials, according to Forni.

When the hospitals were distributing the first round of vaccines, some administrators — not technically eligible for the vaccine yet because they were not in inpatient care settings — received the vaccine due to an issue with the state’s VAMS system, but it was corrected right away, according to Ferreira. Ferreira said it was something he would not report on because it was “so low” an amount.

Forni later said there might have been some confusion. “Administrators in our health system are considered healthcare workers. [Connecticut] is using the term ‘healthcare personnel’ and defines this group as ‘all paid and unpaid persons serving in healthcare settings who have the potential for direct or indirect exposure to patients of infectious materials.’”

“There are groups within Phase 1A. Some administrators received an invite to get vaccinated. However, based on available and limited supply, we are now only able to offer vaccines to healthcare workers who are in high risk of exposure situations because they have direct contact with patients,” Forni added.

Forni wrote in an email “there were no mix-ups” and things are changing quickly based on vaccine supply meaning they “have to be agile and pivot when necessary.”

H John Voorhees III / Hearst Connecticut Media Nuvance Health is vaccinating approximately 775 individuals a day across its four Connecticut hospitals after beginning distribution on Dec. 18., according to System Chair of Primary Care Dr. Cornelius Ferreira. He said the hospitals were well-prepared for the vaccines and have not seen any doses spoil or go to waste.