Health Canada Cautions Allergic People Against Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine

Senate Holds Hearing Examining Logistics For Vaccine Distribution

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WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 10: Wesley Wheeler, President of Global Healthcare at United Parcel Service (UPS), holds up a sample of the vial that will be used to transport the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine as he testifies during a Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee hearing on the logistics of transporting a COVID-19 vaccine on December 10, 2020 in Washington, DC. Once a vaccine is approved by the FDA, emergency approval of Pfizers Covid vaccine coming as early as today, the next hurdle is making sure the vaccine gets to where it is most needed.

Health Canada is warning people with allergies to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine's ingredients not to ask to be administered the dose.

Advisory For Allergic People

The health agency announced in a statement on Saturday they were issuing the advisory after the news that two vaccinated individuals in the United Kingdom were experiencing anaphylactoid allergic reactions to it.

The reactions transpired on the 8th of December, and the two individuals had a history of serious allergic reactions and carried adrenaline auto-injectors. They both underwent treatment and had a recovery.

Inoculations against the novel coronavirus in Canada are scheduled to commence on Monday.

According to Health Canada, it has assessed the available evidence after the allergic reactions, both of which took place on Tuesday, and it is not making alterations to its advisory regarding the usage of the vaccine.

The agency stated individuals with serious allergies should talk with their doctor prior to being administered the vaccine.

Health Canada remarked, "In Canada, all vaccines carry a warning about the risk of serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, and immunization clinics are equipped to manage these rare events," reported Info News.ca.

Also, according to the agency in a notification, "As vaccine roll-out begins in Canada, Canadians may be wondering about the risks of allergic reactions. In Canada, all vaccines carry a warning about the risk of serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, and immunization clinics are equipped to manage these rare events," reported The Tribune.

The decision by United Kingdom drug regulators to advise against the usage of the coronavirus vaccine created by Pfizer and BioNTech in individuals who have a history of serious allergic reactions has raised some concerns.

Also Read: FDA Authorization of Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine for Emergency Use a 'Medical Miracle,' According to Trump

Anaphylaxis could be life-threatening, with weakened breathing and blood pressure drop that often occur within minutes or even seconds upon exposure to a food or medicine or a substance including latex to which the person is allergic.

The vaccine's ingredients are the following: Its medicinal ingredient, mRNA, and non-medicinal ingredients ALC-0315 = ((4-hydroxybutyl)azanediyl)bis(hexane-6,1-diyl)bis(2-hexyldecanoate), ALC-0159 = 2-[(polyethylene glycol)-2000]-N,N-ditetradecylacetamide, 1,2-Distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, dibasic sodium phosphate dihydrate, cholesterol, potassium chloride, monobasic potassium phosphate, sodium chloride, sucrose, and water for injection.

According to Health Canada's release, "In Canada, all vaccines carry a warning about the risk of serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. Immunization clinics are equipped to manage these rare events," reported 660 City News.

Quebec's Health Department has announced its plans to inoculate residents of two long-term care homes, one in Quebec City and one in Montreal, on Monday. Many other provinces remarked they would begin immunizing health-care workers on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Public Safety Minister Bill Blair announced the federal government would send a greater number of Canadian Forces members to help the Shamattawa First Nation combat a coronavirus outbreak.

As of now, Canadian soldiers are gearing up for the vaccine's arrival, according to Procurement Minister Anita Anand on Twitter. She posted images of soldiers loading a large box onto an airplane, which her press secretary stated contained vaccine freezers slated for the North.