Allergy warning made over new coronavirus jab

The MHRA has said that people with a history of significant allergic reactions should not have the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid jab.

The warning from the regulator follows news that two NHS workers had allergic reactions on 8 December shortly after having the new jab. They have both since had treatment and are fine now.

They are understood to have had an anaphylactoid reaction, which tends to involve a skin rash, breathlessness and sometimes a drop in blood pressure. Both NHS workers have a history of serious allergies and carry adrenaline pens around with them.

The advice applies to those who have had reactions to medicines, food or vaccines. Dr June Raine, head of the MHRA, said it was only right to take this step now that ‘we've had this experience’.

Meanwhile, the NHS has announced the vaccination programme will be expanded out to GP surgeries from next week. Doses are expected to be delivered to around 200 GP surgeries initially to allow them to start on 15 December. The over-80s will be invited first.

Once the first 200 GP practices have received their doses the programme will be expanded out to more than 1,000 surgeries - with each local area having a designated site. It means most patients will be invited to a GP centre that is not their usual one.