Nanoparticles May Be the Culprit in Rare COVID Vaccine Allergic Reactions
Rick Moran : Dec 22, 2020
PJMedia.com
Allergic reactions to vaccines are expected to be one in a million doses. But the Pfizer vaccine experienced six such allergic reactions in just 272,000 patients...
[PJMedia.com] Scientists may be zeroing in on what has caused severe allergic reactions in at least six people who have received a dose of Pfizer's COVID vaccine. Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines contain tiny nanoparticles of PEG—polyethylene glycol. The manmade compound is used as part of the packaging of the messenger RNA. PEG helps carry the vaccine to human cells and also acts as a boost to our immune response. (Image: Pixabay)
Allergic reactions to vaccines are expected to be one in a million doses. But the Pfizer vaccine experienced six such allergic reactions in just 272,000 patients.
PEG has never been used before in an approved vaccine, but it is found in many drugs that have occasionally triggered anaphylaxis—a potentially life-threatening reaction that can cause rashes, a plummeting blood pressure, shortness of breath, and a fast heartbeat. Some allergists and immunologists believe a small number of people previously exposed to PEG may have high levels of antibodies against PEG, putting them at risk of an anaphylactic reaction to the vaccine.
Others are skeptical of the link. Still, the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) was concerned enough to convene several meetings last week to discuss the allergic reactions with representatives of Pfizer and Moderna, independent scientists and physicians, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
"Until we know there is truly a PEG story, we need to be very careful in talking about that as a done deal," says Alkis Togias, branch chief of allergy, asthma, and airway biology at NIAID. That's very good advice. There may be a variety of reasons for an allergic reaction or perhaps a combination of factors. Anaphylaxis is a severe response of the immune system and there are many factors that could trigger it... Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here
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