Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

January 22, 2021

Allergic Reactions Including Anaphylaxis After Receipt of the First Dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine

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CDC identified 21 case reports of anaphylaxis during the administration of a reported 1,893,360 first doses of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine between December 14 and 23, 2020. Of these 21 cases, four people (19%) were hospitalized and 17 (81%) were treated in emergency departments. No deaths from anaphylaxis were reported. Seventeen (81%) of 21 patients with anaphylaxis had a documented history of allergies or allergic reaction; 7 (33%) had experienced an episode of anaphylaxis in the past. Commonly reported symptoms in non-anaphylaxis allergic reactions included itching, rash, itchy and scratchy sensations in the throat, and mild respiratory symptoms. [EDITORIAL NOTE: The analysis in this article was included in an MMWR article summarized in the Lit Rep on January 6, 2021. http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7002e1]

Shimabukuro and Nair. (Jan 21, 2021). Allergic Reactions Including Anaphylaxis After Receipt of the First Dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine. JAMA. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2021.0600