Allergic reaction to Pfizer vaccine in UK
UK health regulatory body official says looking into 2 cases of adverse reactions
LONDON: Those with a history of allergic reaction should not take the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine, UK health officials said on Wednesday, after two persons who received it on Tuesday as part of a mass vaccination drive showed strong adverse reaction.
“We’re looking at two case reports of allergic reactions,’’s aid Dr June Raine, head of the UK’s medical regulatory agency as she testified on Wednesday to a Parliamentary committee. “We know from the very extensive clinical trials that this wasn’t a feature.”
The chief executive of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said the new advice is that people with a significant history of allergy to vaccines and drugs should not have the vaccine.
UAE says China vaccine 86% effective
The United Arab Emirates said on Wednesday a vaccine tested in the nation is 86% effective, though it released few details.
The UAE conducted a trial of Sinopharm CNBG involving 31,000 volunteers from 125 nations. The UAE’s Health and Prevention Ministry said the analysis “shows no serious safety concerns”.
Rich countries hoarding vaccines, say NGOs
The People’s Vaccine, an alliance of NGOs, on Wednesday alleged that rich countries have hoarded enough doses to vaccinate their populations nearly three times over, with nearly 70 poor countries only able to vaccinate one in 10 people next year unless urgent action is taken.
The alliance, which includes campaign groups such as Oxfam, Amnesty International, Frontline AIDS and Global Justice Now, said urgent action is needed from governments and the pharmaceutical industry to make sure enough doses are produced.