People with a history of “significant” allergic reactions have been warned not to currently receive the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine after two people who had the jab on Tuesday went into anaphylactic shock.

Two NHS staff members who received the jab on the first day of the mass vaccination programme suffered an allergic reaction, the NHS in England has confirmed. Both are recovering, it is understood.

The NHS in England said all trusts involved with the vaccination programme have been informed.

It is understood two NHS staff members developed symptoms of “anaphylactoid reaction” shortly after receiving the vaccine.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has given precautionary advice to NHS trusts that anyone who has a history of “significant” allergic reactions to medicines, food or vaccines should not receive the vaccine.

Professor Stephen Powis, national medical director for the NHS in England, said: “As is common with new vaccines the MHRA have advised on a precautionary basis that people with a significant history of allergic reactions do not receive this vaccination after two people with a history of significant allergic reactions responded adversely yesterday. Both are recovering well.”

Pfizer said the vaccine was “well tolerated” during the trials with “no serious safety concerns”.

These trials were clearly not rigorous enough and already on day one we are seeing the consequences of that.