From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report.
As COVID-19 vaccinations begin, health officials around the world are looking for any problems that may arise. These side effects – resulting from the administration of the vaccine – are both expected and unexpected.
Alergic reactions
Recently, two health workers in the state of Alaska experimented allergic reactions after administration of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. One had a severe reaction and was hospitalized for observation. The reaction of the second worker was less severe.
The United Kingdom recently reported two similar cases. The Associated Press (AP) reported that these people had severe allergies in the past. As a result, British officials have warned people with a history of severe drug allergies to delay vaccination.
U.S. health officials are not giving such a strong warning. US medical staff always ask people about allergies before vaccination. The instructions for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine tell you to avoid it if you are severely allergic to any of the ingredients or they have already had a reaction to it.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people stay under observation for about 15 minutes after vaccination. Those with a history of allergies should stay for 30 minutes. If they have a reaction, they can be treated immediately.
However, doctors said the Alaska medical worker who had a severe allergic reaction had no history of allergies. He felt redness on his face and difficulty breathing 10 minutes after the first blow. He will not be given a second vaccine. The second worker in Alaska showed less severe signs. Her eyes became fluffy, her neck scratched, and she felt trembling or light.
Allergic reactions are common with new medications. However, observation of COVID-19 vaccines for unexpected side effects is more difficult in this case.
This is due to the huge number of people who need to be vaccinated next year. Another difficulty is the different types of vaccines used at the same time. It is very possible that one vaccine will have different side effects from another.
The first vaccine to be widely used in the United States and many Western countries is the one developed by Pfizer and BioNTech in Germany. The second vaccine from Moderna is expected soon.
Both vaccines were made using the same method. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has said that huge studies on each have not found major safety risks.
Dr. Jesse Goodman of Georgetown University used to be a top FDA vaccine official. He told the AP that allergic concern “again underscores the importance of real-time safety mONITORING. “
Health officials have several ways to observe how people react to COVID-19 vaccines. The PA said that in the coming months, as more people are vaccinated, health officials will create more ways to monitor reactions to vaccines.
Influenza-like side effects
Getting the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine can cause some temporary ones discomfort. This is the case with many vaccines.
In addition to arm pain, people may experience high body temperature and other flu. symptom. These include extreme fatigue, body aches, chills and headaches. These symptoms last about a day. But sometimes they can be severe, causing the person to be absent from work. Reports suggest that these symptoms are more common after the second stroke and more common in younger people.
COVID-19 vaccines appear to cause more of these reactions than a flu vaccine. In some people, the reaction is similar to a person getting the vaccine for the infection called shingles.
Coronavirus-like side effect
However, some reactions are similar to the early symptoms of coronavirus. This is one reason why hospitals do not give the vaccine to all their employees at the same time. They give the vaccines to workers in smaller groups for a longer period of time.
But the serious risks?
The FDA found no serious side effects in the tens of thousands of people involved in the studies of the two vaccines.
However, sometimes rare but serious side effects occur when a vaccine is widely used. This also happens when the vaccine has not passed exact and complete tests.
Dr. Jay Butler of the CDC warned that balancing any possible risks “with BENEFITS the vaccine predicts in the pandemic is an ongoing process.
And this is the Health and Lifestyle report. This is Anna Matteo.
Anna Matteo adapted this story Associated Press for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor.
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Words in this story
allergic -Adj., allergy -N. related to a medical condition that causes someone to get sick after coming into contact with a substance that is harmless to most people
ingredient -N. one of the substances that make up a mixture
fluffy -Adj. larger than normal, swollen
scratch -Adj. painful, larger or harsher than normal
monitor -V. to follow, observe, listen, or check over time a special purpose, such as health
discomfort -N. an uncomfortable or painful feeling in the body
symptom -N. a sign that an illness or problem is present
benefit -N. good, useful or healthy results