Polyethylenglycol – Freund oder Feind?

Anaphylactic reactions following vaccination are rare However, anaphylactic reactions towards the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine were first reported in two patients in the UK and another 19 in the USA Pegylation with polyethylene glycol (PEG) was thought to be the possible culprit Pegylation is a common process in the manufacture of vaccines in order to prevent early degradation by the immune system PEG is a polyether like e g Laureth-9, polidocanol, thesit and macrogol and is found in foodstuffs, cosmetics and personal care products as well as in liposomes and nanoparticles, as drug-delivery-system and as osmotic laxans for gastroscopies/coloscopies Given the widespread use of PEG, reactions to vaccinations are rare and therefore no reason to exclude allergic patients in principle or indeed those who know the exact cause of a former anaphylaxis In Germany, medical doctors are obliged to report any severe adverse reactions following vaccination;it is hoped that this procedure will help to resolve any remaining questions