Of the nearly 2 million people who were vaccinated against COVID-19 over a 10-day period in December, only 21 had severe allergic reactions, Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officials said Wednesday.
Most of these people had a history of allergies or allergic reactions, and for the 20 people the CDC followed, they all recovered and were sent home.
Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Disease, said allergic reactions are an “extremely rare” event.
Of course, we all hope that any vaccine will have zero side effects, but even at 11 cases per million doses administered, it is a very safe vaccine, she said.
The risk of COVID-19 becoming seriously ill is much higher, Messonnier said, with more than 2,000 people dying a day.
“The risk of COVID and the poor results of COVID is even more than the risk of a severe vaccine outcome,” she said.
A report released Wednesday by the CDC found 21 allergic reactions in 1.9 million people who were vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine between December 14-23.
Eight more reports of severe allergic reactions were reported after that period and were not included in the report. More reports will be released in the future.
The Pfizer vaccine was the only one given to the public at the time, but because of its similarity to the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, the CDC recommends monitoring patients with a history of immediate and severe allergic reactions to vaccines or anaphylaxis. 30 minutes after injections.
People with a history of allergic reactions to food, insect bites, vaccines or a history of anaphylaxis should consult with their doctors before being vaccinated, Messonnier said.