Important Safety Information
Do not administer Pfizer-BioNTech
COVID-19 Vaccine, COMIRNATY
(COVID-19 Vaccine, mRNA), or
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine,
Bivalent to individuals with known history of a severe allergic
reaction (eg, anaphylaxis) to any component of the vaccines.
Management of Acute Allergic Reactions
Appropriate medical treatment used to manage immediate allergic
reactions must be immediately available in the event an acute
anaphylactic reaction occurs following administration of
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine,
COMIRNATY, or Pfizer-BioNTech
COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent.
Monitor vaccine recipients for the occurrence of immediate adverse
reactions according to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention guidelines ().
Myocarditis and Pericarditis
Postmarketing data with authorized or approved monovalent mRNA
COVID-19 vaccines demonstrate increased risks of myocarditis and
pericarditis, particularly within the first week following receipt
of the second primary series dose or first booster dose, with most
booster doses likely administered at least 5 months after
completing primary vaccination. For Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19
Vaccine, the observed risk is higher among adolescent males and
adult males under 40 years of age than among females and older
males, and the observed risk is highest in males 12 through 17
years of age. Although some cases required intensive care support,
available data from short-term follow-up suggest that most
individuals have had resolution of symptoms with conservative
management. Information is not yet available about potential
long-term sequelae. The CDC has published considerations related
to myocarditis and pericarditis after vaccination, including for
vaccination of individuals with a history of myocarditis or
pericarditis
.
Syncope
Syncope (fainting) may occur in association with administration of
injectable vaccines, in particular in adolescents. Procedures
should be in place to avoid injury from fainting.
Altered Immunocompetence
Immunocompromised persons, including individuals receiving
immunosuppressant therapy, may have a diminished immune response
to Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, COMIRNATY, or Pfizer-
BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent.
Limitation of Effectiveness
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, COMIRNATY, or Pfizer-BioNTech
COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent may not protect all vaccine recipients.
Adverse Reactions
The safety of a booster dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine,
Bivalent (individuals 5 years of age and older) and for the third
dose of the primary series in individuals 6 months through 4 years
of age is based on:
-
The safety of a booster dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19
Vaccine, Bivalent (individuals 5 years of age and older) and for
the third dose of the primary series in individuals 6 months
through 4 years of age is based on:
-
safety data from clinical trials which evaluated primary (6
months of age and older) and booster (5 years of age and older)
vaccination with Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, and
-
postmarketing safety data with Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent
The safety data accrued with the bivalent vaccine (Original and
Omicron BA.1) and with Pfizer- BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine are
relevant to Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent because
these vaccines are manufactured using the same process.
In a clinical study (3 mcg modRNA) of participants
6 through 23 months of age, adverse reactions
following administration of any dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19
Vaccine included irritability (68.4%), decreased appetite (38.6%),
tenderness at the injection site (26.4%), injection site redness
(17.8%), fever (14.4%), injection site swelling (7.3%), and
lymphadenopathy (0.2%).
In a clinical study (3 mcg modRNA) of participants
2 through 4 years of age, adverse reactions
following administration of any dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19
Vaccine included pain at the injection site (47.0%), fatigue
(44.8%), injection site redness (18.9%), fever (10.5%), headache
(8.7%), injection site swelling (8.4%), chills (5.7%), muscle pain
(5.0%), joint pain (2.4%), and lymphadenopathy (0.1%).
In a clinical study (10 mcg modRNA) of participants
5 through 11 years of age, adverse reactions
following administration of any primary series dose of
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine included pain at the injection
site (84.3%), fatigue (51.7%), headache (38.2%), injection site
redness (26.4%), injection site swelling (20.4%), muscle pain
(17.5%), chills (12.4%), fever (8.3%), joint pain (7.6%),
lymphadenopathy (0.9%), nausea (0.4%), rash (0.3%), malaise
(0.1%), and decreased appetite (0.1%).
In a clinical study (10 mcg modRNA) of participants
5 through 11 years of age, adverse reactions
following administration of a single booster dose of
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine were injection site pain (73.9%),
fatigue (45.6%), headache (34.0%), muscle pain (18.3%), injection
site swelling (16.4%), injection site redness (15.6%), chills
(10.5%), fever (6.7%), joint pain (6.7%), diarrhea (4.9%),
lymphadenopathy (2.5%), and vomiting (2.4%).
In clinical studies (30 mcg modRNA) of participants
12 through 15 years of age, the most commonly
reported adverse reactions (≥8%) following any dose of
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine were pain at the injection site
(90.5%), fatigue (77.5%), headache (75.5%), chills (49.2%), muscle
pain (42.2%), fever (24.3%), joint pain (20.2%), injection site
swelling (9.2%), and injection site redness (8.6%).
In clinical studies (30 mcg modRNA) of participants
16 through 55 years of age, the most commonly
reported adverse reactions (≥10%) following any dose of
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine were pain at the injection site
(88.6%), fatigue (70.1%), headache (64.9%), muscle pain (45.5%),
chills (41.5%), joint pain (27.5%), fever (17.8%), and injection
site swelling (10.6%).
In a clinical study (30 mcg modRNA) of participants
18 through 55 years of age, adverse reactions
following administration of a first booster dose of
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine were pain at the injection site
(83.0%), fatigue (63.7%), headache (48.4%), muscle pain (39.1%),
chills (29.1%), joint pain (25.3%), lymphadenopathy (5.2%), nausea
(0.7%), decreased appetite (0.3%), rash (0.3%), and pain in
extremity (0.3%). Severe allergic reactions (including
anaphylaxis), myocarditis and pericarditis have been reported
following administration of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine.
In clinical studies (30 mcg modRNA) of participants
56 years of age and older, the most commonly
reported adverse reactions (≥10%) following any dose of
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine were pain at the injection site
(78.2%), fatigue (56.9%), headache (45.9%), muscle pain (32.5%),
chills (24.8%), joint pain (21.5%), injection site swelling
(11.8%), fever (11.5%), and injection site redness (10.4%).
The clinical study (30 mcg modRNA) that evaluated a booster dose
of the bivalent vaccine (Original and Omicron BA.1) included
participants greater than 55 years of age.
Adverse reactions following administration of the bivalent vaccine
(Original and Omicron BA.1) as a second booster dose included pain
at the injection site (58.1%), fatigue (49.2%), headache (33.6%),
muscle pain (22.3%), chills (13.0%), joint pain (11.3%), injection
site redness (7.0%), injection site swelling (6.6%), fever (5.0%),
lymphadenopathy (0.3%), nausea (0.3%), and malaise (0.3%).
Post Authorization Experience
Severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, and other
hypersensitivity reactions (eg, rash, pruritus, urticaria,
angioedema), diarrhea, vomiting, pain in extremity (arm), syncope,
and dizziness have been reported following administration of
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19
Vaccine, Bivalent.
Myocarditis and pericarditis have been reported following
administration of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine and
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent.
Additional adverse reactions, some of which may be serious, may
become apparent with more widespread use of Pfizer-BioNTech
COVID-19 Vaccine and post authorization use of Pfizer-BioNTech
COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent.
Before administration, please click to see:
EUA Fact Sheet for Vaccination Providers
Full Prescribing Information
EUA Fact Sheet for Recipients and Caregivers