Two North Dakotans have suffered severe allergic reactions shortly after taking the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, according to a news release put out by the North Dakota Department of Health on Wednesday, Dec. 30.
Both allergic reactions occurred during a 15-minute observation period after the vaccines were administered. Health officials report that neither resident required hospitalization, though they have been advised to forgo a second dose of the vaccine.
Neither resident had a history of allergic reactions to vaccines, and the incidents were not linked in any way. State health officials have reported the episodes to the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which will perform a follow-up investigation. Earlier this month, a CDC committee reported six similar incidents across the nation.
State immunization coordinator Molly Howell stressed that allergic reactions to the COVID-19 vaccine are uncommon, and those who are eligible to receive the shot should seek it out unless they have a known allergy to a component of vaccine.
“These allergic reactions are taken very seriously. While they are rare, North Dakota health care providers are prepared to handle these types of events,” Howell said. “COVID hospitalizations and deaths continue to be a far greater risk for North Dakotans, with about 1 in 600 North Dakotans having died with COVID-19 and 1 in 250 being hospitalized. The vaccine is the best way to protect yourself from COVID-19.”
More than 13,000 North Dakota health care and nursing home workers have received the vaccine without suffering an allergic reaction. Nationally, about 2.5 million people have gotten their first doses of the vaccine.
