A nurse prepares a shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at Guy’s Hospital in London, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020, as the U.K. health authorities rolled out a national mass vaccination program.
A nurse prepares a shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at Guy’s Hospital in London, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020, as the UK health authorities rolled out a national mass vaccination program. Frank Augstein, Associated Press
Herb Scribner
By Herb Scribner

UK health authorities said Wednesday that people with “significant history of allergic reactions” should not take the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine, according to CNN.

  • The warning came after two health care workers suffered symptoms after receiving a shot on Tuesday.
  • The Telegraph reports the two National Health Services employees suffered “anaphylactoid reactions” to the vaccines.
  • The pair “responded adversely” to the COVID-19 vaccine after it was released in the UK.
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The staffers had a history of allergic reactions. Thousands of others received the first vaccine shot, though, and did not respond any problems, according to CNN.

  • “As is common with new vaccines the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) have advised on a precautionary basis that people with a significant history of allergic reactions do not receive this vaccination after two people with a history of significant allergic reactions responded adversely yesterday,” said Stephen Powis, the national medical director for NHS England, in a statement. “Both are recovering well.”

Millions still plan to get the COVID-19 vaccine in the UK later this month, according to NPR.

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