On June 4, Khatuna Saginashvili, the Editor-in-Chief of Kvakutkhedi journal, published a post on Facebook, writing that she received a message from a medical worker about at least three people experiencing a shock after getting vaccinated for the coronavirus. The post comes with screenshots of the conversation, where an unidentified individual writes to Saginashvili that there are doctors around the unidentified individual who work in the vaccination department and claim that at least three shock cases are recorded every day.
The information, disseminated by the Editor-in-Chief of Kvakutkhedi is not true. Myth Detector retrieved data on anaphylactic shock cases connected to the coronavirus vaccinations from the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health (NCDC). According to the data, a total of 173,345 vaccinations were carried out from the start of the vaccination campaign until June 6 and only four cases of anaphylactic shock were recorded.
Myth Detector contacted the NCDC and retrieved data on anaphylactic shock cases connected to the coronavirus vaccinations. According to the official figures by the NCDC, a total of 173,345 vaccinations were carried out from the start of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign until June 6 and only four cases (0.002%) of anaphylactic shock were recorded.
According to the NCDC information, all four cases were successfully handled by medical workers and all patients recovered. It is noteworthy that the figures do not include the Akhaltsikhe case, as an investigation is still ongoing.
The response by the NCDC also includes the definition of anaphylactic shock:
“Anaphylactic shock is a rare, but severe allergic reaction that can be life-threatening if treated incorrectly. Most frequently, the reason for an anaphylactic shock is an allergic reaction to food, a bite by an insect, or a medical substance. Anaphylactic shock can also happen during a vaccination, just like with any other medication, but they are very rare and do not mean that the drug is bad.”
According to NCDC, first symptoms of anaphylactic shock are a severe local reaction, itching, shortness of breath, visible paleness, and a drop in arterial pressure. The response also explained that not all allergic reactions are anaphylactic shocks, and that they are diagnosed based on special criteria laid out in a guideline.
“In accordance with the recommendations of the World Health Organization, doctors evaluate patients’ anamneses in detail to determine, whether a” risk of a severe allergic reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine exists. Medical staff at the clinic that provides immunization are accordingly trained to identify severe allergic reactions in time and take emergency measures to treat such reactions. Therefore, it is important that patients who are getting vaccinated provide full information to doctors whether they have had a severe allergic reaction, especially about the cases that required the use of adrenaline/epinephrine or hospitalization” – says the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health.
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