CDC: Anaphylactic reactions after first dose of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine

Editor's Note

From December 14 to 23, 2020, after administration of 1,893,360 first doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identified 21 case reports of anaphylaxis.

Of those, 4 (19%) were hospitalized (including 3 in intensive care), and 17 (81%) were treated in an emergency department.

The median interval from vaccine receipt to symptom onset was 13 minutes. Most common signs and symptoms were urticaria, angioedema, rash, and sense of throat closure.

A total of 17 had documented histories of allergies or allergic reactions, including to drugs or medical products, foods, and insect stings, and 7 had experienced an anaphylactic reaction in the past.

All but 1 was discharged home or had recovered at the time of the report to the CDC. No deaths were reported.

During the same period, 83 cases of nonanaphylactic allergic reactions also were reported. Common symptoms included pruritus, rash, itchy and scratchy sensations in the throat, and mile respiratory symptoms.

All patients should be instructed to seek immediate medical care if they develop signs or symptoms of an allergic reaction after their observation period ends and they have left the vaccination location, the authors say.