Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have played an important role in reducing the risks and effects of the coronavirus pandemic, in and around the UK. The effectiveness of the vaccine is way more than the current declining risk of having complications, but three new side effects have emerged and they are linked to the aforementioned COVID vaccines. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is currently actively looking into this issue.
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Most UK residents have now received at least one jab of the vaccine and the results of this campaign are highly evident. Restrictions have been overturned across nationwide and the economy is coming back to life. This dramatic turn of events is all down to the vaccines reducing the severity of the disease, which has stopped the NHS from becoming overwhelmed.
However, side effects of the vaccines continue to be reported. Although the risk of developing a complication post-vaccination remains extremely low, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) is currently investigating the link between the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines and three new conditions.
The health body is trying to establish a causal link between the vaccines and an allergic skin reaction called erythema multiforme or two kidney disorders.
It has requested additional data from Pfizer, BioNTech and Moderna. In response to the development, Pfizer released the following statement:
We take adverse events that are potentially associated with our COVID-19 vaccine, BNT162b2, very seriously. We closely monitor all such events and collect relevant information to share with global regulatory authorities.
Serious adverse events that are unrelated to the vaccine are unfortunately likely to occur at a similar rate as they would in the general population.
New side effects
The skin condition is called erythema multiforme. According to the EMA, it causes round skin lesions which may also affect mucous membranes in internal body cavities.
The two kidney disorders are nephrotic syndrome and glomerulonephritis. Nephrotic syndrome makes the kidneys to leak too much protein into the urine.
Glomerulonephritis causes inflammation of the tiny filters in the kidneys. Symptoms of the kidney disorders are fatigue, bloody or foamy urine, and oedema—a swelling of the eyelids, feet or abdomen.
Some of the patients under examination had pre-existing kidney diseases. The EMA also is looking into menstrual side effects with all of the available adenovirus and mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.
Pfizer said that it and BioNTech are supporting the EMA's Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee investigation with data and analyses.
