The UK began vaccinating elderly people and medical workers with a vaccine developed by American drugmaker Pfizer and Germany's BioNTech, the world's first rollout.
LONDON, UK Britain's medical regulator warned Wednesday that people with a history of serious allergic reactions shouldnt receive the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech as investigators look into whether two reactions on the first day of the countrys vaccination program were linked to the shot.
Professor Stephen Powis, medical director for National Health Service in England, said the advice was issued on a precautionary basis and that the people who had reactions had recovered.
Pfizer and BioNTech said they were working with investigators to better understand each case and its causes.
In the meantime, the Medical and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency has said people should not received the vaccine if they have had a significant allergic reaction to a vaccine, medicine or food, such as those who have been told to carry an adrenaline shot sometimes called EpiPens or others who have had potentially fatal allergic reactions. The medical regulator also said vaccinations should be carried out only in facilities that have resuscitation equipment.
Such advice isn't uncommon; several vaccines already on the market carry warnings about allergic reactions, and doctors know to watch for them when people whove had reactions to drugs or vaccines in the past are given new products.
The two people who reported reactions were NHS staff members who had a history of significant allergies and carried adrenaline shots. Both had serious reactions, but recovered after treatment, the NHS said.
Stephen Evans, a professor of pharmacoepidemiology at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said the regulator had done the right thing, but the general public shouldn't be worried about getting the vaccine.
For the general population, this does not mean that they would need to be anxious about receiving the vaccination," he said. One has to remember that even things like marmite can cause unexpected severe allergic reactions.
The warning comes just a day after Britain rolled out its mass vaccination programamid efforts to control a pandemic that has killed more than 62,000 people across the country. The MHRA gave an emergency authorization to the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine last week, making Britain the first country to approve its widespread use. Canada's regulator authorized the vaccineWednesday.
Even in non-emergency situations, health authorities must closely monitor new vaccines and medications because studies in tens of thousands of people cant detect a rare risk that would affect 1 in 1 million. Authorities have not said how many people have received the shot in Britain so far, but they plan to give 800,000 doses in the first phase, which will target people over 80, nursing home staff and some NHS workers.
Late-stage trials of the vaccine found no serious safety concerns, Pfizer and BioNTech said. More than 42,000 people have received two doses of the shot during those trials.
Detailed data from the vaccine's trials showed potential allergic reactions in 0.63% of those who received the vaccine, compared with 0.51% of those who received the placebo. Reviewers from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration called this a slight numerical imbalance.
Documents published by the two companies showed that people with a history of severe allergic reactions were excluded from the trials, and doctors were advised to look out for such reactions in trial participants who werent previously known to have severe allergies.
As part of its emergency authorization for the vaccine, the MHRA required healthcare workers to report any adverse reactions to help regulators gather more information about safety and effectiveness.
The agency is monitoring the vaccine rollout closely and will now investigate these cases in more detail to understand if the allergic reactions were linked to the vaccine or were incidental, Powis said. The fact that we know so soon about these two allergic reactions and that the regulator has acted on this to issue precautionary advice shows that this monitoring system is working well.
Dr. June Raine, head of the medical regulatory agency, informed a Parliamentary committee about the reactions during previously scheduled testimony on the pandemic.
We know from the very extensive clinical trials that this wasnt a feature of the vaccine, she said. But if we need to strengthen our advice, now that we have had this experience in the vulnerable populations, the groups who have been selected as a priority, we get that advice to the field immediately.
FDA could give the green light for Pfizers Covid-19 vaccine Thursday ActionNewsJax.com
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. Wednesday afternoon, the Black Impact Collaborative held a virtual discussion about the longstanding distrust that African Americans have regarding the medical field. Moderator Dr. Walter Brame noted that officials in the United Kingdom have already begun distributing the vaccine there. However, he believes concerns need to be addressed in the Black community in the United States before its distributed.
Watch:
It is my hope that the discussion will shed light on some of the issues and will provide answers to some of the issues related to the vaccine, Dr. Brame said during a Zoom interview. Given the history of African Americans and the medical community, there are some stumbling blocks that well have to overcome in terms of trust.
Officials with Spectrum Health, Cherry Health and Kent County were a part of the discussion. One of the major stumbling blocks discussed was the history between the Black community and the medical field, which dates as far back as the colonial days when enslaved Africans were used for various experiments, he said. Since then, Black people have been put on display in exhibitions and zoos as animals, and continue to be used in tests and trials for diseases like syphilis.
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The Tuskegee Experiment is where the CDC of the American government sponsored, over a long period of time, the impact of syphilis on the human body supposedly trying to discover what differences if any existed between the treatment of Blacks and Whites, when in fact no Whites were involved, Dr. Brame said about the 1932 experiment. Given this history with bad experience with the medical community, it is easy to understand that people are questioning whether or not this is another jinx.
Dr. Brame added that the experiment lasted for decades and ended the year his son was born in 1972. According to the CDC website, hundreds of men participated in the study in exchange for meals and a nice burial. He believes the trial continues to impact the Black community today and has led to further untruths in the medical field.
RELATED: Only about 50% of Americans want a COVID-19 vaccine, poll says
The notion that Black people dont experience pain for example in the very same way that others experience pain, he said is a common misconception. This, coupled with the disparities that exist from infant mortality, which weve made some improvements on in recent years in the Kent County area. But we had problems with infant mortality to over-representation in major diseases even when the diseases in some instances were discovered earlier, the death rate for Blacks is greater than for other groups.
Dr. Brame also mentioned other incidents that led to further distrust, like Henrietta Lacks whose cells were used by scientists and medical professionals for research and her family was not compensated, and civil rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer receiving a hysterectomy without her consent. Considering all of this, he said he understands Black peoples apprehension. However he hopes discussions like the one conducted by the Black Impact Collaborative will empower people to make intelligent decisions about their participation.
When I talk to my friends in the medical community and when I see physicians that are taking it, Im likely to line up to take it also, Dr. Brame said. But I understand why some people will have reservations about using medicine given our history.
Click here to view our complete coverage of the coronavirus pandemic.
When 91-year-old Martin Kenyon stepped out of Guys Hospital in London and in front of a CNN camera Tuesday, not even his family knew he was one of the first people in the world to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
His charming interview recalling his vaccination experience quickly went viral and soon even his relatives over here across the pond knew of Kenyons online fame, including his cousin, Cape Cod state Rep. Dylan Fernandes.
A link to Kenyons appearance with CNNs Cyril Vanier made the rounds in Fernandess family group chat, the Falmouth Democrat toldthe State House News Service.
It was hysterical and totally vintage Martin. Hes a character and an awesome guy who you can always count on to speak his mind, Fernandes told the outlet. I literally just got off the phone with him and I let him know that he is trending all over America, and that millions of Americans have seen his interview. He got a kick out of that. He didnt have any idea. He didnt even know it was CNN. So he got a real kick out of it.
The rollout of Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine to the general public began Tuesday in the United Kingdom, where officials have received 800,000 doses, or enough to vaccinate 400,000 people. People who are over the age of 80 who are hospitalized or have outpatient appointments scheduled, nursing home workers, and vaccination staffers are among those receiving the first batch of shots.
Kenyon said on CNN he called up the hospital and, after answering some questions, was told to come in.
Of course, I couldnt damn well find anywhere to park my car, so I was late, Kenyon said in the interview. Anyway, Im here now and I got inside and they duly put me down the list and I went off and had a rather nasty lunch and then came back. And they were ready for me.
He hoped to be vaccinated so he could hug his grandchildren again in the coming weeks.
No point in dying now when I have lived this long, is there? he quipped. I dont plan to anyway.
Fernandes said hes related to Kenyon through his grandmother. He told the news service he sees Kenyon at large family events like major birthdays and weddings. Kenyon has stayed with him in Woods Hole before and has taken in some of Fernandess hockey games in Falmouth.
The local lawmaker revealed the family connection on Twitter Tuesday and boasted some fun facts about Kenyon, who Fernandes said was the first person I ever saw take a flaming shot.
This was 16 years ago, so he was around 75, he wrote.
Fernandes also highlighted Kenyons really impressive career in international affairs.
He worked to combat the South African apartheid regime and is the godfather of one of Desmond Tutus daughters, he wrote.
Kenyons moment in the spotlight continued Wednesday morning as he appeared on ITVs Good Morning Britain.
Co-host Piers Morgan, who watched Kenyons CNN clip when it was live on air, remarked to Kenyon the Americans clearly had no idea what to make of you as you gave a quintessentially stiff upper-lip English interview.
And Kenyon admitted he cant make sense of his overnight popularity.
Its rather ridiculous, isnt it? he said. I rather hoped it was a sort of 24-hour nonsense but anyway, here we are.
Watch the full interview on Good Morning Britain:
Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.
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WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) A poll conducted in November by MassINC Polling Group reported the majority of Massachusetts residents plan to get the vaccine once available.
Side effects of both Moderna and Pfizers vaccine have been shown to be mild to moderate soreness, muscle aches, fever, and fatigue that ended in one to two days.
The data and safety monitoring board, an independent group of experts via the National Institutes of Health, found side effects of the Moderna trial vaccine were more pronounced after the second dose. But health experts dont expect any severe long term side effects.
22News spoke to a woman who hopes to be one of the first to get the vaccine.
I think Im going to be second or third in line to get it and I think its worth getting. I dont see any reason why people would be scared to take it. Its just going to give you peace of mind. Arline Ely of West Springfield
United Kingdom health regulators say people who have a significant history of allergic reactions shouldnt get the Pfizer vaccine after two people had adverse reactions but both people are recovering well and the UK is investigating the cause.
U.S. documents from the FDA say Pfizers vaccine was strongly protective against coronavirus and ultimately appeared safe.
TUCSON (KVOA)- Viewers have been emailing in their questions regarding getting a coronavirus vaccine when it is available in Arizona.
One viewer asked: "It is reported that people who had COVID-19 now have some immunity to the virus. Will they also be first in line with their groups to get the vaccine or will they be encouraged to wait for a later round?"
Holly Poynter from the Arizona Department of Health Services said that a previous COVID-19 positive diagnosis does not prevent a person from receiving a vaccine or hinder the vaccine's ability to work effectively.
In regards to if you have to be a permanent resident of Arizona to receive a COVID-19 vaccination in Arizona. The answer is no.
"Place of permanent residence doesn't factor into whether someone can get vaccinated in Arizona and what a person's priority will be," said Poynter.
As for some viewers wondering how much this vaccine will cost, Gov. Doug Ducey announced during a coronavirus briefing that the COVID-19 vaccine will be free.
Need to stay updated on coronavirus news in Texas? Our evening roundup will help you stay on top of the day's latest updates. Sign up here.
At least three members of the State Board of Education tested positive for COVID-19 after meeting in person for four days in November, according to multiple board members.
Georgina Prez, an El Paso Democrat, said she tested positive. Two other board members also tested positive, board chair Keven Ellis told The Texas Tribune. All three tests came within two weeks of Nov. 20, the last day of the board meeting, according to Ellis and Prez.
Support staff for the board sent emails to members last Monday and Tuesday telling them the two members had tested positive. Those two members did not respond to interview requests Tuesday, and the Tribune is not naming them, pending comment. Three board members confirmed the contents of the emails to the Tribune.
The 15-member board meets five times per year to discuss curriculum standards and textbook approvals in short, what 5.5 million Texas public school students are required to learn each year. Its April and June meetings were held virtually, as COVID-19 cases spiked. But the September and November meetings were held in person, with exceptions for members who wanted to participate from home, Ellis said.
None of the support staff members in the room have since tested positive, according to Ellis. Members of the public who testified at the board meeting did so virtually.
Prez said she told a few board members about her positive test, after they reached out to her, but that she did not tell the board's staff. The archived video of November's meeting shows Prez wearing two masks much of the time more consistently than most other members. But at times, she took it off to speak at the microphone, which she said was to avoid sounding muffled. The virus' symptoms hit her hard Thanksgiving Day: One minute she was merely congested and within the next hour, she couldn't stand up or walk. She said she tested positive Nov. 30.
To her, the cases are proof that Texas needs to be more cautious about getting back to normal until a vaccine is made readily available. She said that's especially true as state leaders prepare for a legislative session starting in January.
"This needs to be a cautionary tale because sending people back to classrooms or getting ready to hold the legislative session before we're all vaccinated, it's not just dangerous. People are going to die," she said.
Four Republican board members Matt Robinson, Tom Maynard, Pam Little and Marty Rowley told the Tribune they chose not to get tested after being notified of the two positive cases because they did not have any symptoms. They said they did not know about Prez's positive test. Ellis did get a test and tested negative. The Tribune reached out by phone or email to every other board member Tuesday evening, but most did not respond.
Experts say that layering safety precautions, including wearing masks and social distancing, is the best way to prevent COVID-19 transmission. Ellis said members' desks in the room were at least 10 feet apart and many wore masks to go to the bathroom or when in close contact with others.
But the livestream of the meeting showed many members not wearing masks while seated at their desks. A few Republicans said they felt they were far enough away from other members and masks were not necessary.
"I wasn't aware that six feet indoors was different from six feet outdoors," said Little, a Fairview Republican.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises hosting gatherings and events outdoors if possible and wearing masks when less than six feet apart or indoors.
Little said she still feels comfortable with in-person meetings. Though she understands the dangers of the coronavirus, she is frustrated that "everyone is so scared of it that they're letting it monopolize their lives."
Just over three hours into the Nov. 18 meeting, Pat Hardy, a Fort Worth Republican, walked to Prez's desk and talked to her closely without a mask on. Prez, who had removed her mask to address other members during a discussion, did not put it back on.
Hardy did not respond to a request for comment. Prez said she regretted that decision but it shows how easy it is to make mistakes and unintentionally compromise safety.
"That's clearly a mistake that I made. Knowing that I know better and it just didn't dawn on me to do it, what does that say for the danger we're putting a whole bunch of little kids in?" she said.
Ellis, who is a chiropractor, stopped short of saying he would mandate masks in the future.
"I wouldn't go to a mandate," he said. "But I would have a very good discussion with each member about how we can minimize the risk at all possible."
He said he would consider "working toward" changes such as providing personal protective equipment and rapid testing for members at future in-person meetings.
Maynard, a Florence Republican, questioned whether Prez had been infected at the board meeting.
"There's a big outbreak in El Paso," he said. "When you have that level of community spread, can you conclusively tie it to that?"
Maynard said his wife, a real estate appraiser, tested positive Monday, and that he has not had symptoms. He believes his wife was likely infected in the process of doing her job and that her case is not connected to the board meeting. He has consulted a doctor who suggested waiting a few days to get tested.
Prez, who still has a persistent cough and low energy, acknowledged she may not have gotten COVID-19 at the meeting.
"I'm in a hot spot in the nation, so maybe I got it somewhere in El Paso," she said. "Maybe I got in on the plane. Except for the fact that since March, the only place I've gone is to SBOE meetings."
Aicha Davis, a Dallas Democrat, decided to stay home and attend virtually. But it did not appear easy for her to participate in November's meeting. At times, her audio sometimes cut out or was difficult to hear, although Ellis and board staff helped to ensure she could participate.
Prez said she chose to attend the meeting in person because she didn't want to risk missing her opportunity to help revise an outdated sex education policy that hadn't been changed in decades.
"If I didn't go, would I have gotten my comprehensive sex ed amendments done?" she said. "Obviously I weighed the risks and thought representing my district was more important than not."
The incident comes ahead of January's state legislative session where Republican leaders are still considering what safety requirements to put in place to limit COVID's spread. The scale of the session is much greater than the board's meetings because it requires hundreds of people over the course of 140 days.
A state House leader recently suggested that masks may be required in all public areas of the Texas Capitol and that building occupancy could be limited. And Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is considering requiring members of the public to get tested for the coronavirus 24 hours before testifying at a hearing.
Ellis said he has worked to balance the needs of constituents with the public safety of members and staff.
"If there was a good, easy, simple, productive way to do this, we'd all be doing it," he said.
Wisconsin has reported 385 COVID-19 deaths in the last week, including 81 Wednesday Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Many of the known positive cases stemmed from the September 26 Rose Garden event, where Trump announced his choice to nominate Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. At least a dozen people tested positive for the virus after attending, including Trump himself.
But since then and as new Covid-19 cases reach record levels across the country, more positive cases have begun to pop up among Trump's team and his close associates.
