Only 21 of the first 1.9 million people to receive coronavirus vaccines had severe allergic reactions. Vaccine centers have protocols in place to easily treat such incidents, CDC officials said.
Severe allergic reactions to coronavirus vaccines continue to be rare occurrences and should not prevent Americans from getting vaccinated, officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday.
The CDC explained that given the small risk of severe allergic reaction and the high risk of catching and spreading COVID-19, the benefits of vaccination far outweigh the costs. Plus they note, the allergic reactions reported have been easily treatable.
So far only 21 of the 1.9 million people who have received a shot during the first weeks of vaccination experienced severe allergic reactions, according to data the CDC released midweek. Most of those who experienced reactions had a history of such allergic reactions and 20 of them have fully recovered.
“The known and potential benefits outweigh the known and potential risk of getting the vaccine,” said Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, in a news briefing.
Severe allergic reaction, called anaphylaxis, is easily treatable with medicines like epinephrine. Many people who are already diagnosed with severe allergic reactions to items such as peanuts or eggs often carry epinephrine in the form of an EpiPen.
According to the Washington Post, epinephrine has been the medicine used to treat almost all of the 21 anaphylactic reactions to the vaccines.
The reactions appeared in patients within 15 minutes of receiving the vaccine, which is why centers administering the vaccine and the CDC recommend patients who have been inoculated stay 30 minutes for observation before leaving. If a reaction presents itself, medical personnel can quickly treat the patient.
Although only a few cases of severe allergic reactions have occurred, experts have voiced concerns that reports of them could dissuade Americans from getting vaccinated.
The United States is suffering an incredible pandemic surge. COVID-19 is killing about 2,670 people every day, and that average is continuing to rise.
Hospitals and healthcare facilities across the country are reaching their breaking points. In Los Angeles County, ambulance drivers have been told not to transport patients who have little hope for survival and supplies of oxygen are running low.
Politics
Pennsylvania redesigned its mail-in ballot envelopes amid litigation. Some voters still tripped up
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A form Pennsylvania voters must complete on the outside of mail-in ballot return envelopes has been redesigned, but that did...
Biden makes 4 million more workers eligible for overtime pay
The Biden administration announced a new rule Tuesday to expand overtime pay for around 4 million lower-paid salaried employees nationwide. The...
Malcolm Kenyatta makes history after winning primary for Pa. Auditor General
State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, who was first elected to the state House in 2018, won the Democratic nomination for Pa. Auditor General and will...
Local News
What do you know about Wawa? 7 fun facts about Pennsylvania’s beloved convenience store
Wawa has 60 years of Pennsylvania roots, and today the commonwealth’s largest private company has more than 1,000 locations along the east coast....
Conjoined twins from Berks County die at age 62
Conjoined twins Lori and George Schappell, who pursued separate careers, interests and relationships during lives that defied medical expectations,...