A New York medical worker has had a serious adverse reaction to a coronavirus vaccine, officials said Wednesday.
New York Health Commissioner David Chokshi said during a Press conference that the unidentified worker experienced a “significant allergic reaction” to the vaccine. He added that the worker was treated for the reaction and is in stable condition and recovering.
The incident was the first adverse reaction reported in the city.
Chokshi said the department looked at the side effects of coronavirus vaccines in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), but noted that they are uncommon. He advised those who had allergic reactions to previous vaccines or injections to consult their doctors before getting vaccinated.
“For the vast, vast majority of people with allergies, the situation does not apply,” he said. The COVID-19 vaccine will be safe and effective for those people and for everyone else.
The reaction comes less than a week after the Food and Drug Administration said it was investigating multiple reports side effects of the Pfizer and BioNTech coronavirus vaccine in Alaska and other states.
Peter Marks, who heads the agency’s Biological Assessment and Research Center, said Friday it was unclear what caused the reactions. However, he indicated that a chemical called polyethylene glycol, which is present in both the Pfizer vaccine, BioNTech, and Moderna, “could be to blame.”
In the guidelines issued on Saturday, CDC advises those who have a severe reaction after the first dose not to receive the second blow.
The UK health regulator has warned earlier this month that those with a ‘significant’ history of allergic reactions should not receive the Pfizer vaccine after two people have reported side effects.