PDATE: Allergic reaction to COVID-19 vaccine reported in Alaska

PDATE: Allergic reaction to COVID-19 vaccine reported in Alaska

Today 7:42 AM ET (MarketWatch)

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Health officials in Alaska said Wednesday that a health care worker who had received one dose of BioNTech (BNTX) and Pfizer Inc.'s (PFE) COVID-19 vaccine had a "presumed allergic reaction." The individual, who did not have a history of allergies,

 reported flushing and shortness of breath within 10 minutes of receiving the vaccine and is currently hospitalized

. U.K. officials last week said there had been two instances of anaphylactic reaction (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/u-k-regulators-warn-people-with-history-of-significant-allergic-reactions-not-to-have-pfizerbiontech-covid-19-vaccine-after-two-adverse-reactions-11607514857%7CNEW) among the first group of people to start receiving the shots there.

 Hospitals in Alaska began administering doses of the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine on Tuesday, four days after the Food and Drug Administration granted emergency authorization to the vaccine, making it the first coronavirus vaccine to be made available to people in the U.S. "We expected that a side effect like this could occur," Dr. Anne Zink, chief medical officer for the state, said in a news release. "All sites that are approved to provide vaccinations in Alaska must have medications on hand to deal with an allergic reaction."

-Jaimy Lee; 415-439-6400; AskNewswires@dowjones.com