
Numerous media stories this morning are reporting that health officials in the United Kingdom have advised that people with a history of significant allergic reactions should not be given the new Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for COVID-19. This comes after two National Health Service workers reported an anaphylactic reaction after receiving the vaccine yesterday. Both of these patients had a history of anaphylaxis and carried an epinephrine autoinjector. At this time, it is not known whether the reactions can be traced to the vaccine. As allergists, we know there is a rare risk of anaphylaxis to vaccines. The College has a COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force, which is monitoring this situation closely and will advise members of any new information, including any recommendations from the US Food and Drug Administration and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.