1 00:00:05,640 --> 00:00:10,320 Speaker 1: Welcome to Prognosis. I'm Laura Carlson. It's day three hundred 2 00:00:10,360 --> 00:00:15,320 Speaker 1: and three since coronavirus was declared a global pandemic. Today's 3 00:00:15,320 --> 00:00:20,600 Speaker 1: main story. Some people have gotten severe allergic reactions after 4 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:25,400 Speaker 1: being vaccinated for COVID nineteen. While the number is very small, 5 00:00:25,920 --> 00:00:29,600 Speaker 1: it's higher than it is for the flu shot. What 6 00:00:29,720 --> 00:00:34,559 Speaker 1: does that mean for you? But first, here's what happened 7 00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:47,919 Speaker 1: in virus News today. In Israel, one of the country's 8 00:00:47,920 --> 00:00:52,120 Speaker 1: with the most effective vaccine programs, the shots may already 9 00:00:52,159 --> 00:00:56,760 Speaker 1: be working. The country has inoculated about of its population, 10 00:00:57,200 --> 00:00:59,560 Speaker 1: and it is starting to see signs that the swift 11 00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:03,920 Speaker 1: campaign is slowing the virus. A study from the Sheba 12 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:07,240 Speaker 1: Medical Center of around five hundred healthcare workers who got 13 00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:12,360 Speaker 1: the Fighter shot showed more than fifty produced antibodies after 14 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:17,080 Speaker 1: the first week. The findings are preliminary, but they're encouraging. 15 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:21,959 Speaker 1: In New York City, residents looking to get vaccines have 16 00:01:22,160 --> 00:01:26,839 Speaker 1: to navigate a bewildering system that's hindering plans to speed 17 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:31,360 Speaker 1: up inoculations. According to a tweet from Comptroller Scott Stringer, 18 00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:35,880 Speaker 1: who is also a mayoral candidate, to ramp up its 19 00:01:35,920 --> 00:01:40,160 Speaker 1: slow rollout. The city opened mass vaccination sites on Sunday 20 00:01:40,240 --> 00:01:43,680 Speaker 1: in Brooklyn, and the Bronx extended shots on Monday to 21 00:01:43,800 --> 00:01:48,600 Speaker 1: people seventy five and over and encouraged everyone eligible to 22 00:01:48,760 --> 00:01:53,520 Speaker 1: schedule an appointment, but the sign up process is fractured 23 00:01:53,880 --> 00:01:59,160 Speaker 1: and confusing. Meanwhile, the city's mayor, build A. Blasio reaffirmed 24 00:01:59,240 --> 00:02:03,240 Speaker 1: his goal of dolling out one million COVID nineteen doses 25 00:02:03,560 --> 00:02:09,079 Speaker 1: by the end of January. Finally, Faser and bio Ntech 26 00:02:09,520 --> 00:02:13,520 Speaker 1: raised their COVID nineteen vaccine production target for this year 27 00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:18,080 Speaker 1: to two billion shots. The partners have already agreed to 28 00:02:18,120 --> 00:02:21,680 Speaker 1: deliver more than half that capacity. Bio Ntech said in 29 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:25,520 Speaker 1: a presentation on Monday, a new production site in Marburg, 30 00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:28,040 Speaker 1: Germany will be able to make as many as seven 31 00:02:28,120 --> 00:02:38,520 Speaker 1: hundred and fifty million doses per year. And now for 32 00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:42,720 Speaker 1: today's main story. As vaccinations roll out across the country, 33 00:02:42,919 --> 00:02:47,440 Speaker 1: a few people have incurred serious allergic reactions, despite that 34 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:51,840 Speaker 1: the CDC is sticking with its recommendation that most people 35 00:02:52,120 --> 00:02:56,200 Speaker 1: should still get the shots. I spoke with healthcare reporter 36 00:02:56,400 --> 00:03:09,040 Speaker 1: and a court about why. Almost as soon as people 37 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:13,360 Speaker 1: began to receive shots of COVID nineteen vaccines. We heard 38 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:17,040 Speaker 1: reports of allergic reactions and I was just hoping you 39 00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:20,560 Speaker 1: might tell us a little bit about the kinds of 40 00:03:20,600 --> 00:03:27,280 Speaker 1: reactions people were experiencing with regard to the COVID nineteen vaccine. Right, 41 00:03:27,360 --> 00:03:32,160 Speaker 1: So we know that there are in general with vaccines 42 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:36,760 Speaker 1: reactions people can have to getting shots, and and many 43 00:03:36,800 --> 00:03:39,320 Speaker 1: of them are are mild and they go away. You know, 44 00:03:39,360 --> 00:03:41,920 Speaker 1: I think we've all had that sort of injection site 45 00:03:41,960 --> 00:03:45,040 Speaker 1: paying your arm feels a little sore, it goes away. Um. 46 00:03:45,080 --> 00:03:48,720 Speaker 1: You can have other things like fever, headache again, things 47 00:03:48,760 --> 00:03:52,960 Speaker 1: that are very short lived, Um, typically kind of disappear. 48 00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:56,720 Speaker 1: So what we're talking about here is a little bit different. 49 00:03:57,120 --> 00:04:00,800 Speaker 1: The main kind of safety concern is these year allergic 50 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:04,920 Speaker 1: reactions known as anaphylaxis, which you know, can be life threatening. 51 00:04:04,960 --> 00:04:08,680 Speaker 1: Those it's rare that people die of it. And specifically, 52 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:12,280 Speaker 1: we're getting a clearer picture now from the US Centers 53 00:04:12,360 --> 00:04:17,360 Speaker 1: for Disease Control and Prevention of how frequently this occurs, 54 00:04:17,400 --> 00:04:21,320 Speaker 1: and the answer is very infrequently. It's the CDC says 55 00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:25,800 Speaker 1: it's had about twenty nine confirmed cases of anaphylaxis to 56 00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:31,320 Speaker 1: these COVID nineteen shots so far. These are both to 57 00:04:31,400 --> 00:04:35,120 Speaker 1: the Fiser shot as well as the Maderna shot. But 58 00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:38,480 Speaker 1: the rate at which this is happening, you know, twenty 59 00:04:38,560 --> 00:04:41,320 Speaker 1: nine of the millions of people who have been vaccinated 60 00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:43,360 Speaker 1: is is still quite low. So it's the rate is 61 00:04:43,400 --> 00:04:47,000 Speaker 1: about one in one thousand people. It's important to note 62 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:50,560 Speaker 1: like these are severe reactions. People went to the hospital, 63 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:52,479 Speaker 1: you know, they were some of them were treating the 64 00:04:52,680 --> 00:04:56,000 Speaker 1: emergency room. Some were actually hospitalized or taken to the 65 00:04:56,040 --> 00:04:59,800 Speaker 1: i c U. But ultimately we haven't had any death 66 00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:04,080 Speaker 1: from these reactions, the CDC is saying, So that's positive news. 67 00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:07,800 Speaker 1: The big takeaway here is that although there are risks 68 00:05:07,880 --> 00:05:10,960 Speaker 1: to getting COVID shots, like to any medical product, to 69 00:05:11,040 --> 00:05:15,240 Speaker 1: any drug, to any vaccine, ultimately the CDC. CDC is 70 00:05:15,279 --> 00:05:19,080 Speaker 1: still urging most people to get the shots. And the 71 00:05:19,160 --> 00:05:22,080 Speaker 1: two exceptions they've outlined are people who know that they 72 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:26,320 Speaker 1: are allergic to vaccine ingredients and people who had a 73 00:05:26,400 --> 00:05:29,680 Speaker 1: reaction to that first dose of the covid vaccine should 74 00:05:29,680 --> 00:05:33,240 Speaker 1: not get the second dose. And as far as you know, 75 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:37,000 Speaker 1: were we now have a variety of different vaccine shots. 76 00:05:37,040 --> 00:05:40,880 Speaker 1: We have as you mentioned Fiser, we have moderna UM. 77 00:05:40,920 --> 00:05:43,440 Speaker 1: You know, there's the Astra Zeneca and the University of 78 00:05:43,480 --> 00:05:46,360 Speaker 1: Oxford vaccine as well. And you know, when we're talking 79 00:05:46,400 --> 00:05:52,400 Speaker 1: about potential allergic reactions, is there any difference between these 80 00:05:52,480 --> 00:05:57,080 Speaker 1: various shots as far as potential allergies to ingredients or 81 00:05:57,160 --> 00:06:00,240 Speaker 1: something along those lines that would depend on what shot 82 00:06:00,360 --> 00:06:04,400 Speaker 1: someone is getting. That is a really good question and 83 00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:06,760 Speaker 1: I think we would all love to know the answer 84 00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:09,800 Speaker 1: to that. Something that's coming up now in terms of 85 00:06:09,800 --> 00:06:13,800 Speaker 1: the allergic reactions to these early COVID nineteen shots is 86 00:06:14,120 --> 00:06:17,800 Speaker 1: really health officials trying to understand more about why this 87 00:06:17,880 --> 00:06:21,240 Speaker 1: is happening and and specifically the rate we're seeing, which is, 88 00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:25,159 Speaker 1: you know, somewhat higher than the rate of anaphylaxis scene 89 00:06:25,200 --> 00:06:28,360 Speaker 1: with flu vaccines. They're trying to make sense of why 90 00:06:28,400 --> 00:06:31,320 Speaker 1: that could be. Isn't something specific to this m R 91 00:06:31,360 --> 00:06:35,080 Speaker 1: and a technology which both the MADERNA and fisor vaccines 92 00:06:35,520 --> 00:06:39,240 Speaker 1: um use, or could it just be something else else 93 00:06:39,320 --> 00:06:42,279 Speaker 1: going on? Another factor here is that this is a 94 00:06:42,360 --> 00:06:45,840 Speaker 1: vaccine rollout that's being really closely monitored right then with 95 00:06:45,960 --> 00:06:49,080 Speaker 1: good reason um. And that means that it's possible we're 96 00:06:49,680 --> 00:06:52,520 Speaker 1: and hopeful that we're picking up on more of these 97 00:06:52,600 --> 00:06:55,599 Speaker 1: cases than we normally do because there's so much scrutinay 98 00:06:55,600 --> 00:06:59,320 Speaker 1: being paid to that safety profile here. So it's something 99 00:06:59,320 --> 00:07:02,839 Speaker 1: where we a you know, be learning more as these 100 00:07:02,839 --> 00:07:06,520 Speaker 1: shots are rolled out and as more become available. As 101 00:07:06,520 --> 00:07:10,480 Speaker 1: you said, there have been fairly few reports of severe 102 00:07:10,520 --> 00:07:15,400 Speaker 1: allergic reactions to the say either Fiser or modern as vaccines, 103 00:07:15,680 --> 00:07:21,480 Speaker 1: But have those reports of reactions altered any plans for 104 00:07:21,680 --> 00:07:24,800 Speaker 1: distribution or the rollout in any way? What we are 105 00:07:24,840 --> 00:07:27,520 Speaker 1: hearing from the CDC is that it hasn't significantly changed 106 00:07:27,600 --> 00:07:31,560 Speaker 1: plans for distribution. It hasn't even really significantly changed their 107 00:07:31,600 --> 00:07:34,400 Speaker 1: recommendations in terms of who should get the vaccine. What 108 00:07:34,440 --> 00:07:37,200 Speaker 1: they are saying again is, you know, providers need to 109 00:07:37,240 --> 00:07:40,360 Speaker 1: be prepared to treat these kinds of reactions. So something 110 00:07:40,360 --> 00:07:43,760 Speaker 1: they've been saying this whole time is as people get 111 00:07:43,760 --> 00:07:46,760 Speaker 1: these shots, they should be monitored I think for up 112 00:07:46,760 --> 00:07:50,240 Speaker 1: to thirty minutes after receiving the shots, because that's when 113 00:07:50,280 --> 00:07:54,440 Speaker 1: it's most likely that these reactions will emerge. And then 114 00:07:54,720 --> 00:07:58,200 Speaker 1: that providers should be familiar with and have on hand 115 00:07:58,240 --> 00:08:02,040 Speaker 1: these treatments like the EpiPen, these allergic reaction treatments so 116 00:08:02,080 --> 00:08:06,040 Speaker 1: that they can do something if someone has one of 117 00:08:06,080 --> 00:08:09,760 Speaker 1: these severe reactions, so they're prepared to treat patients. You know, 118 00:08:09,840 --> 00:08:13,000 Speaker 1: you mentioned the flu and the flu shot. I mean, 119 00:08:13,240 --> 00:08:17,600 Speaker 1: thus far do the numbers of people who have experienced 120 00:08:17,680 --> 00:08:22,360 Speaker 1: an allergic reaction to either Fiser or Maderna's vaccine. How 121 00:08:22,400 --> 00:08:24,920 Speaker 1: does that compare to the people who experienced, say, an 122 00:08:24,960 --> 00:08:29,560 Speaker 1: allergic reaction to the annual flu shot. So so the 123 00:08:29,640 --> 00:08:32,680 Speaker 1: latest information we have about this comes by way of 124 00:08:32,720 --> 00:08:35,440 Speaker 1: the CDC, which put out a report um that was 125 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:39,240 Speaker 1: focused specifically on the Fiser vaccine because the Fiser vaccine 126 00:08:39,280 --> 00:08:41,280 Speaker 1: was the first to get authorized in the US and 127 00:08:41,320 --> 00:08:44,960 Speaker 1: it had the most uptake when the CDC was compiling 128 00:08:44,960 --> 00:08:48,800 Speaker 1: this information, so recipients of the Fiser vaccine there was 129 00:08:48,840 --> 00:08:53,640 Speaker 1: a rate of eleven point one per million doses administered, 130 00:08:53,679 --> 00:08:57,040 Speaker 1: so eleven point one cases of anaphyl access per million 131 00:08:57,160 --> 00:09:01,200 Speaker 1: doses administered. And then when you talk about the flu vaccine, 132 00:09:01,240 --> 00:09:04,240 Speaker 1: the rates actually lower. Based on the studies we have, 133 00:09:04,360 --> 00:09:07,760 Speaker 1: it's about one point three times per million doses of 134 00:09:07,840 --> 00:09:11,800 Speaker 1: flu vaccine. So again eleven point one compared to one 135 00:09:11,800 --> 00:09:15,280 Speaker 1: point three times per million doses. The rate appears to 136 00:09:15,320 --> 00:09:18,560 Speaker 1: be higher with these COVID nineteen vaccines, but it's important 137 00:09:18,600 --> 00:09:21,920 Speaker 1: to note and something the CDC said during a briefing 138 00:09:21,960 --> 00:09:24,920 Speaker 1: the other day was, we have seen in some small 139 00:09:24,960 --> 00:09:29,440 Speaker 1: studies that other vaccines have higher rates of anaphylaxis. So 140 00:09:29,600 --> 00:09:33,800 Speaker 1: twelve to twenty five times per million doses, it's within 141 00:09:33,880 --> 00:09:38,120 Speaker 1: the range of what's expected here. Again the CDC saying 142 00:09:38,240 --> 00:09:41,040 Speaker 1: it's still quite rare that this is going to happen 143 00:09:41,080 --> 00:09:43,360 Speaker 1: with this vaccine at this point, based on what we 144 00:09:43,760 --> 00:09:46,559 Speaker 1: the information we have, and that it's still important to 145 00:09:46,600 --> 00:09:49,319 Speaker 1: get these vaccines because you have to stack it up 146 00:09:49,360 --> 00:09:52,640 Speaker 1: against the risk of getting a severe case of COVID nineteen, 147 00:09:52,960 --> 00:09:57,720 Speaker 1: which has obviously very significant consequences for patients. So in 148 00:09:57,880 --> 00:10:02,200 Speaker 1: terms of populations who would be at risk for a 149 00:10:02,240 --> 00:10:07,160 Speaker 1: severe allergic reaction, who would fall into that category. Yeah, 150 00:10:07,240 --> 00:10:10,000 Speaker 1: so this is the key part of this, right um, 151 00:10:10,520 --> 00:10:14,760 Speaker 1: And we don't have a perfect information, but what we 152 00:10:14,800 --> 00:10:18,720 Speaker 1: did hear from the CDC recently was of these twenty 153 00:10:18,720 --> 00:10:22,320 Speaker 1: one cases of severe allergic reactions with the Fiser shot, 154 00:10:23,000 --> 00:10:27,719 Speaker 1: seventeen had a documented history of allergies and seven had 155 00:10:27,720 --> 00:10:31,520 Speaker 1: a history of anaphylaxis. And by the way, allergies is 156 00:10:31,679 --> 00:10:35,719 Speaker 1: that's pretty wide ranging, right, that's allergies to drugs, right, 157 00:10:35,800 --> 00:10:40,120 Speaker 1: that's allergic reactions to food, to insects things. So, um, 158 00:10:40,160 --> 00:10:42,520 Speaker 1: this is a lot a lot of people who who 159 00:10:42,720 --> 00:10:44,760 Speaker 1: might be kind of starting to think about this and 160 00:10:45,080 --> 00:10:47,640 Speaker 1: wonder what it means for them getting the shots. And 161 00:10:47,920 --> 00:10:50,120 Speaker 1: what the CDC is saying is talk this over with 162 00:10:50,160 --> 00:10:53,480 Speaker 1: your physician and make this decision. It's not something that 163 00:10:53,559 --> 00:10:57,640 Speaker 1: I think every person is educated about as they experienced 164 00:10:57,679 --> 00:11:00,000 Speaker 1: medical care, as they go to the doctor, as they 165 00:11:00,480 --> 00:11:02,400 Speaker 1: venture out in the world. But it's something that's really 166 00:11:02,400 --> 00:11:05,400 Speaker 1: important to know because you know, there's always a risk 167 00:11:05,440 --> 00:11:08,120 Speaker 1: you're taking on and that doesn't mean you shouldn't get 168 00:11:08,200 --> 00:11:10,880 Speaker 1: care or you shouldn't get a shot, for instance, but 169 00:11:10,920 --> 00:11:13,200 Speaker 1: it is something that it's helpful to be educated about 170 00:11:13,240 --> 00:11:16,239 Speaker 1: so you're properly informed us you go into any situation. 171 00:11:21,920 --> 00:11:24,720 Speaker 1: That was Emma Court. And that's it for our show today. 172 00:11:25,120 --> 00:11:27,760 Speaker 1: For coverage of the outbreak from one and twenty bureaus 173 00:11:27,800 --> 00:11:32,920 Speaker 1: around the world, visit Bloomberg dot com slash coronavirus and 174 00:11:33,000 --> 00:11:35,200 Speaker 1: if you like the show, please leave us a review 175 00:11:35,240 --> 00:11:38,480 Speaker 1: and a rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It's the 176 00:11:38,520 --> 00:11:41,880 Speaker 1: best way to help more listeners find our global reporting 177 00:11:42,600 --> 00:11:46,440 Speaker 1: The Prognosis Daily edition is produced by Tophra Foreheads, Magnus 178 00:11:46,440 --> 00:11:51,160 Speaker 1: Hendrickson and me Laura Carlson. Today's main story was reported 179 00:11:51,160 --> 00:11:56,040 Speaker 1: by Emma Court, original music by Leo Sidrin. Our editors 180 00:11:56,040 --> 00:11:59,920 Speaker 1: are Rick Shine and Francesco Levi. Francesco Levi is blue 181 00:12:00,120 --> 00:12:16,920 Speaker 1: Berg's head of podcasts. Thanks for listening, h