A compound known as polyethylene glycol may be responsible for some of the allergic reactions seen in people who receive coronavirus vaccines, a top US Food and Drug Administration official said Friday.
At least three cases of this anaphylaxis – a serious allergic reaction – have been reported in the first week of the release of the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine in the US, as well as two in Great Britain. All reported cases to health professionals have been resolved with prompt treatment, and doctors say allergic reactions can be expected with any vaccine.
Dr. Peter Marks, who heads the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said in Friday night’s newsletter that the FDA was investigating which component of the vaccine could cause an allergic reaction. He said the FDA was investigating five possible cases of an allergic reaction.
“It is known that one of the components present in both vaccines, polyethylene glycol, can sometimes be associated with allergic reactions,” said Marks.
Those allergic reactions may be more common than previously thought, he added, saying people are exposed to polyethylene glycol in pharmaceuticals, including intestinal preparations and laxatives.
‘That could be a culprit here. And that’s why we’ll be watching very closely as we watch the Moderna vaccine roll out, ”he said.
The FDA approved emergency use of Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine on Friday and demanded that application sites keep treatments for anaphylaxis on hand.