Allergist Explains Who Should Not Get Pfizer's COVID-19 Vaccine
Dr. Moisés Zebede, an allergist, explained what are the reactions and allergies that can occur when vaccinated, and who should not get the vaccine against COVID-19 from the pharmaceutical company Pfizer.
The Pfizer vaccine is messenger RNA. To awaken an immune response against the virus, RNA teaches the body's cells to make a protein that will respond and fight it, if the person becomes infected.
"This vaccine does not have the virus, it cannot make you sick," Zebede said.
He compared the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine with others such as influenza, dengue and other diseases, and mentioned that generally, for most vaccines the inactivated virus is injected so that the body gives an immune response, and therefore, sometimes, those immunized feel as if they had the disease for several days, but on a lesser scale.
He explained that the body can react to any vaccine that is applied to it.
REACTIONS
- Local reaction: swelling, pain, redness in the area of application.
- Systemic reaction: headache, fatigue, chills, others, lasting no more than two days.
He explained that the symptoms that commonly occur "are not from the vaccine, but from the body that is fighting, after receiving the message that says: make me antibodies to fight this."
ALLERGIES
He also listed possible allergies that may occur, which are not the same as reactions.
The vaccine can cause anaphylaxis, an immediate allergic reaction that can lead to death.
- Skin reactions such as hives, itching, and paleness or redness of the skin.
- Low blood pressure.
- Complication in the airways and swelling of the tongue or throat, which can cause wheezing or difficulty breathing.
WHO SHOULD NOT GET VACCINATED?
According to Zebede, people with a history of allergy to polyethylene glycol, which is present in Pfizer's vaccine, should not be vaccinated with this vaccine, and should wait to be immunized with another pharmaceutical company.
Likewise, people who had anaphylactic shock when applying the first dose should not use the second.
However, he insisted that, except for these people, "the vaccine should be given to everyone," since if you cannot get immunized with Pfizer, there are other options.
He added that those who are asthmatic or have serious allergic diseases can be vaccinated, but they will have to wait 30 minutes and not 15 like the rest, to rule out serious allergies.
He indicated that allergies are immediate, not after 10 hours, days or weeks.
Regarding the AstraZeneca vaccine, he mentioned that of 11 and 10 million people vaccinated with Pfizer and AstraZeneca respectively, 25 and 28 people have had thrombosis.
"If you feel bad after being vaccinated, you should be happy, it means that you have a good immune system and that you are preparing for the fight," he added after mentioning that the only way to stop the pandemic is to get vaccinated worldwide.
"This vaccine does not have the virus, it cannot make you sick," Zebede said.
He compared the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine with others such as influenza, dengue and other diseases, and mentioned that generally, for most vaccines the inactivated virus is injected so that the body gives an immune response, and therefore, sometimes, those immunized feel as if they had the disease for several days, but on a lesser scale.
He explained that the body can react to any vaccine that is applied to it.
REACTIONS
- Local reaction: swelling, pain, redness in the area of application.
- Systemic reaction: headache, fatigue, chills, others, lasting no more than two days.
He explained that the symptoms that commonly occur "are not from the vaccine, but from the body that is fighting, after receiving the message that says: make me antibodies to fight this."
ALLERGIES
He also listed possible allergies that may occur, which are not the same as reactions.
The vaccine can cause anaphylaxis, an immediate allergic reaction that can lead to death.
- Skin reactions such as hives, itching, and paleness or redness of the skin.
- Low blood pressure.
- Complication in the airways and swelling of the tongue or throat, which can cause wheezing or difficulty breathing.
WHO SHOULD NOT GET VACCINATED?
According to Zebede, people with a history of allergy to polyethylene glycol, which is present in Pfizer's vaccine, should not be vaccinated with this vaccine, and should wait to be immunized with another pharmaceutical company.
Likewise, people who had anaphylactic shock when applying the first dose should not use the second.
However, he insisted that, except for these people, "the vaccine should be given to everyone," since if you cannot get immunized with Pfizer, there are other options.
He added that those who are asthmatic or have serious allergic diseases can be vaccinated, but they will have to wait 30 minutes and not 15 like the rest, to rule out serious allergies.
He indicated that allergies are immediate, not after 10 hours, days or weeks.
Regarding the AstraZeneca vaccine, he mentioned that of 11 and 10 million people vaccinated with Pfizer and AstraZeneca respectively, 25 and 28 people have had thrombosis.
"If you feel bad after being vaccinated, you should be happy, it means that you have a good immune system and that you are preparing for the fight," he added after mentioning that the only way to stop the pandemic is to get vaccinated worldwide.