Empty vials containing a dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine against the COVID-19 coronavirus lie on a table as South Africa resumes its vaccination campaign at Klerksdorp Hospital on February 18, 2021.
Phill Magakoe | AFP | Getty Images
Two study participants suffered severe allergic reactions shortly after receiving the Covid-19 vaccine from Johnson & Johnson, a J&J scientist told an FDA panel on Friday.
J&J was first briefed on the allergic reactions on Wednesday, Macaya Douoguih, director of clinical development and medical affairs for the vaccines division at J&J, Janssen, told the FDA’s Advisory Committee on Vaccines and Related Biological Products.
One of the people took part in an ongoing study in South Africa and developed anaphylaxis, a severe and life-threatening allergic reaction, after receiving the vaccine.
She did not provide details on the second person’s reaction.
“We will continue to monitor these events closely,” she told the panel.
To date, there have been no reports of anaphylaxis in J & J’s clinical study. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is currently overseeing events such as the introduction of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines by states and pharmacies.
There were 46 reports of anaphylaxis in patients who received Pfizer’s vaccine and 16 cases in patients who received Moderna’s vaccine, according to a CDC report released on February 16. The agency said the incidence of the reaction is within the range of cases reported for the influenza vaccine.
The CDC urges healthcare providers to monitor patients for 15 minutes after vaccination and for 30 minutes for patients with a history of allergic reactions.
If someone has a severe allergic reaction after the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, the CDC recommends not receiving the second dose, even if the allergic reaction wasn’t severe enough to require emergency care.
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