polyethylene glycol allergy testing


For those who have allergies but have never experienced anaphylaxis, the observation period is 15 minutes, the same as for those with no allergy history. If world governments had listened to you, then perhaps they could’ve saved those people a traumatic scare and an epipen injection who have now had anaphylactic reactions to the recently approved SARS CoV2 vaccine. A: Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is a common, water-soluble ingredient in a wide variety of commercial products including some vaccines and more than 1,000 FDA approved medications. I am not a candidate for either the Pfizer or Moderna covid vaccine due to PEG as one of the ingredients. For instance, there no bovine ingredients similar to those implicated in the past in a small number of reactions to other vaccines.”   They additionally make this observation: “Given that both dairy allergy and alpha-gal are not rare diagnoses, and patients with these conditions were not excluded from the large trials nor the current vaccination program, we would have expected any dairy/beef association to have arisen by now if it were the culprit allergen.”  In keeping with the CDC, they say: “Our current recommendation is that patients with a history of anaphylaxis, which would include patients with severe dairy allergy and alpha-gal allergy, require 30 minutes of observation after getting an mRNA shot.” And lastly say Wolfson and Patil, “we do not see an official constituent or chemical or stabilizer with cross-reactivity in vaccine ingredients to suggest that patients with specific food allergies need caution.”. My research indicates a growing percentage of the population has antibodies to PEG. Ask your doctor for the names of bowel prep kits he or she recommends ahead of time. Propylene glycol is also found in oral treatments as well as many foods. Predicting Prolonged Hospitalizations in Pediatric Community-Acquired Complicated Pneumonia. Many of the newer prep kits for pre-colonoscopy are made almost entirely of polyethylene glycol. None were considered serious or required epinephrine. I was looking the internet trying to find out if there was any reason to see an allergist. It recommends that if a patient has had a previous severe allergic reaction to PEG or a polysorbate, then see an allergist for skin-testing with PEG. The data further show a small number of suspected allergic reactions in both the vaccine and placebo groups, but at a rate of less than 1% (0.63% and 0.51% respectively). It is an extremely versatile compound and is used in the manufacture of numerous products. support. The AAP says a pregnant woman who gets a fever following vaccination should take acetaminophen, since fever “is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes.”. However, one of the ingredients does have a polyethylene glycol component, and polyethylene glycol is a polymer that some people can react to. Information on ingredients of a vaccine or medication (including PEG, a PEG derivative, or polysorbates) can be found in the package insert. Polyethylene Glycol 3350 Powder for Oral Solution Osmotic Laxative • Relieves Occasional Constipation (Irregularity) • Softens Stool. This was also documented with a blood test. When using this product, you may have loose, watery, more frequent bowel movements. My doctor suggested I try to find someone to help me, as they would have to search the internet to. New evidence demonstrates more clearly that it is possible to develop severe immediate hypersensitivity to macrogols, of which the most familiar form to most physicians is polyethylene glycol (PEG) 3350. In its guidance to doctors on the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, the CDC says: 1. If you have previously had a reaction to a vaccine other than this one, the CDC says you may be able to get an mRNA shot, but suggests reviewing the risks and benefits with your allergist. I take medications that have macrogol 400,6000, and even had the colonoscopy prep with 5330 macrogol. We present 5 cases of confirmed PEG allergy, which to our knowledge is the largest case series to date. Cosby A. Monodisperse, spherical, polyethylene glycol (PEG)-coated silica nanoparticles have been prepared at … Allergy to drugs doesn’t mean you are allergic to vaccines.”. The advice is to monitor for 15 minutes, but there’s a longer period for those with a history of anaphylactic reactions. Then if we encounter the spike protein in real life, our immune system says, ‘Hey, you don’t belong here,’ and we can mount a very rapid and protective antibody response.”. 1,2 Propanediol. The Pfizer shot had 95% efficacy in its study, while the Moderna vaccine had an efficacy rate of 94.1%. Further to Food and Latex: The American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI) notes that individuals with allergies to medications, foods, inhalants, insects, and latex “are probably no more likely than the general public to have an allergic reaction to the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.”. She was getting that every two weeks and tolerating it fine. Background: Polyethylene glycols (PEGs) are widely used as excipients in drugs, cosmetics and household products. Factors the CDC says allergists and patients with a history of a vaccine/injectable severe reaction should consider include: *The CDC defines an “immediate allergic reaction” as one that involves symptoms such as widespread hives, swelling and respiratory distress (such as wheezing). The agency says such patients may want to consult an allergist for advice about potential risks and balance these against the benefits of vaccination. If the test is positive, that person would not be a candidate for either of the mRNA vaccines. With thousands of medications containing either PEGs or structurally similar polysorbates, Cosby A. I have a PEG anaphylactic response, tested positive to 3350 at John’s Hopkins. Create account. 1,2 Dihydroxypropane. There is no confirmation that PEG has triggered any of the mRNA vaccine reactions so far. M6S 5A5, Allergic Living The unknown risk of anaphylaxis after an mRNA COVID-19 vaccination for a person with a history of an immediate allergic reaction to other vaccines or injectable medications. In California, a cluster of seven suspected allergic reactions in San Diego led the state epidemiologist to recommend on Jan. 17 that health-care providers pause administration of shots from one Moderna vaccine lot. Physicians treating patients with such a history should know how to confirm a diagnosis (or refer) and how to read ingredient labels using the NIH Daily Med website to keep patients safe during their routine healthcare encounters and prescriptions.”, Immediate Hypersensitivity to Polyethylene Glycols and Polysorbates: More Common Than We Have Recognized Dr. Stone and colleagues used skin testing and oral challenges with PEG and polysorbate-containing agents to determine clinical reactivity and cross-reactivity between the two allergens. Propane-1,2-Diol. The FDA conducted an independent analysis of Pfizer’s clinical trial results, and found a few instances of potential minor allergic reactions among participants. The risk of exposure to COVID-19 because of a living situation (e.g. Yet drug allergy expert Macy says it’s too soon to conclude that, stressing that true allergies to PEG “are vanishingly rare.” The CDC says there are no data on the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in pregnant women, since they were not included in the clinical study. Fortunately, the patient had been treated with Dupixent, a biological eczema drug. 1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in 90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more. Background on the vaccine emergency authorizations. It is a very big problem because of PEG’s ubiquity. Thousands of medications contain either PEGs or structurally similar polysorbates. Print Patch test record form Art.No Name Conc; 1. Contact Dermatitis. Hospitals are not prepared to treat patients with such allergies. Contact Dermatitis. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine is a sterile, preservative-free, frozen suspension for muscle injection. Allergist Dr. David Stukus, an associate professor of pediatrics at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, explained in an Instagram Q&A that “the mRNA part is just a blueprint, it’s harmless.” After we inject it into our bodies and the spike protein is built, “our immune systems, which are so robust, recognize that foreign antigen. We present 5 cases of confirmed PEG allergy, which to our knowledge is the largest case series to date. The CDC advises those with a known allergy to PEG not to get the vaccine. The FDA says this may or may not relate to mRNA vaccination, and will continue to be monitored. (In other words, you might still qualify for the shot to protect against COVID-19.). Four of the 5 cases developed anaphylaxis to … The authors who reviewed the anaphylaxis reports also say that “all facilities administering COVID-19 vaccines should have the necessary supplies and trained medical personnel available to manage anaphylaxis.”. Note: Polyethylene glycol (PEG), an ingredient in both mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, is structurally related to polysorbate and cross-reactive hypersensitivity between these compounds may occur. But how do these novel therapies work with the immune system? , No allergies. Polyethylene Glycol–Induced Systemic Allergic Reactions (Anaphylaxis) Polyethylene glycols (PEGs) or macrogols are hydrophilic polymers found in everyday products such as foods, cosmetics, and medications. On Dec. 24, a Boston doctor became the first to experience anaphylaxis to the Moderna vaccine. There was previous anaphylaxis to: a rabies vaccine, sulfa drugs, a jellyfish sting, walnuts, an anti-nausea medication, a flu vaccine and one case was unspecified.• 90% of the anaphylaxis patients were women, however 65% of those vaccinated were also women.• The median age was 40 years old; there were no clusters of reactions by geography. The CDC says it is safe for those with a history of severe allergies to foods or drugs to get the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. On Dec. 14, 2020, the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine began being administered in the U.S., first to health-care workers. 70% of people develop antibodies against this substance – this means that many people can develop allergic, potentially fatal reactions to the vaccination.” It’s true that the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine does contain polyethylene glycol (PEG). Should you have any adverse side effects, V-safe lets you to report them to assist in data gathering awareness. Propylene Glycol and Basic Information on Toxic Substances; Propylene Glycol in Medications May Make Some Babies Sicker; And the 2018 Winner is Propylene Glycol… How Much Propylene Glycol is Too Much for a Day? She was treated with epinephrine and recovered. Should I get vaccinated if I’m pregnant or breastfeeding? Contrary to some early reports, Pfizer told the FDA reviewing panel of experts that people with a history of severe food or drug allergies were not excluded from the vaccine’s Phase 3 trial. Aluminum testing is part of a metals allergen test – see for example, this link. Propylene Glycol Allergy Historically Difficult to Diagnose with Patch Testing If you enroll someone who’s had anaphylaxis to a prior vaccine and then they have anaphylaxis to this vaccine, it just clouds all the data.” Stukus also stressed that “true anaphylaxis to any vaccine is rare.”, Related Reading:J&J Vaccine: Allergists Assess Safety and Reaction RisksLikely More than 1 Cause of COVID-19 Vaccine ReactionsCDC Update: Severe Reactions to COVID-19 Vaccines Are Rare, Women Most Affected Some Reactions to Vaccines Expected; But Not Reason to Avoid ShotCDC’s FAQ of General COVID-19 Vaccination Questions, E-Mail: info@allergicliving.com Allergic Living is owned by AGW Media Inc. You are viewing Allergic Living Canada | Switch to, FAQ on: Allergy Concerns and the mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine. Pan announced that California providers could resume administration, and there have been no further reaction clusters reported. Report. Polyethylene glycol is a ubiquitous, water-soluble, organic compound found in a wide variety of commercially available products. For adverse effects of significance, the CDC says a representative will get in touch. Methyl Glycol. The incidence for Bell’s palsy within 43,000 people involved in the Pfizer trial was actually lower than the normal incidence rate in the general population. Can they treat someone with this allergy? Those who did have a severe reaction were treated and recovered. Is polyethylene glycol (PEG) to blame for the few anaphylaxis cases to the vaccines? The nurse, who continues to encourage others to get the shot, has no known history of allergies. Epub 2017 Nov 28. [For allergy information on the newly approved Johnson & Johnson vaccine, see this article.]Dr. Dr. Alkis Togias with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) told Allergic Living that a study will soon launch involving people with a history of severe allergic reactions. As well, allergy experts Allergic Living has interviewed emphasize that there are no food proteins among the ingredients of either of the mRNA vaccines. If you have never experienced a severe allergic reaction and don’t carry epinephrine: call 9-1-1 and mention this is an anaphylactic reaction and that you need an ambulance carrying epinephrine. In rare cases, PEG has been known to set off severe allergic reactions. She was given epinephrine. Dr. Anna Wolfson and Dr. Sarita Patil, who are respectively drug and food allergy researchers, said: “Although a few other vaccines have listed bovine extracts in their ingredients, our review of the COVID-19 Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines does not indicate the inclusion of cow protein ingredients. J Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. Immediate Hypersensitivity to Polyethylene Glycols and Polysorbates: More Common Than We Have Recognized. He stated that Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) is a very rare allergy. “This is the first social media pandemic.”. • If you have allergies, make them known to your health-care provider giving the shot. CD40 agonistic monoclonal antibody APX005M (sotigalimab) and chemotherapy, with or without nivolumab, for the treatment of metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma: an open-label, multicentre, phase 1b study. A few weeks after vaccination, the body is left with a supply of white blood cells – “memory” T-lymphocytes as well as B-lymphocytes – that will know to fight the virus. If you determine that you do have a propylene glycol allergy you may have to make some adjustments to your product arsenal. Please see the previous question posted on 10/7/2011. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is a compound that is made from ethylene glycol, which in itself is derived from petroleum. Polyethylene glycol is an inactive ingredient in a ton of medications. “Vaccine providers should observe patients with a history of anaphylaxis (due to any cause) for 30 minutes after vaccination,” the agency says. In this article, Allergic Living recaps what is known so far of any risks or allergy precautions with mRNA vaccines, along with answers to some frequent questions. Methyl Glycol. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. There is no cross-reaction between soy allergy and allergy to other PEG-conjugated proteins.”. Post-Vaccination Observation:The CDC’s guidance for post-vaccination observation says there should be a 30-minute observation period for:• Persons with a history of an immediate allergic reaction of any severity to a vaccine or injectable therapy;• And for persons with a history of anaphylaxis due to any cause. To date, the virus has claimed the lives of almost 516,000 American citizens. It uses text messaging and web surveys to follow-up with vaccine recipients. A potential participant had, in the past, a instant total body rash after and intra-articular injection of Depo medrol and benzocaine. To trigger an immune response, many vaccines put a weakened or inactivated germ into our bodies. On Dec. 15, a nurse at a hospital in Juneau, Alaska, became the first reported American case of anaphylaxis to the Pfizer vaccine. But again, consult your physician. For example, PEG-asparaginase, an anti-cancer drug, which is altered by complexing with PEG. The short answer is yes. With Moderna, the CDC study authors said there were 19 confirmed reports of anaphylaxis, or 2.5 cases for every 1 million people. The CDC says that for either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines, you should not get the vaccine if you: • Had anaphylaxis following a previous dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine or any of its components. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. We asked two allergist-immunologists at Massachusetts General Hospital to expand on the questions about dairy allergy and alpha-gal allergy safety. In Pfizer’s clinical trial of over 43,000 study participants who received either the vaccine or its placebo, data show some side effects. (Read about other potential mRNA vaccine reaction causes here. a long-term care home) or because of job-related risk. On Jan. 6, in its first report on allergic reactions to the mRNA vaccines, the CDC gave some details on 21 confirmed anaphylactic reactions reported in the first 1.5 weeks of vaccination program. The CDC said people who have had severe reactions to prior vaccines or injectable drugs can still get the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine. The doctor, who said his blood pressure dropped significantly, administered his own epinephrine auto-injector (which he carries due to a shellfish allergy). Propylene glycol-free products. The study authored by Wolfson, Blumenthal and colleagues offers guidance to allergists and patients. December 23, 2020 at 3:17 pm. 2 Hydroxypropyl. The triggers for the anaphylaxis varied among the patients. I perform clinical research. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and electrochemiluminescent immunoassay were used to detect anti-PEG specific IgG and IgE, respectively, using PEGylated protein or PEG alone as antigens in two cases and six PEG 3350-tolerant controls. The idea is to find out whether people with allergies – from foods to medications, insect stings or mast cell disorders – are at any higher risk of a reaction to the mRNA vaccines than those without allergies. There were only 66 cases of anaphylaxis among 17.5 million doses of the two vaccines that were administered between Dec. 14 and Jan. 18. Xu H(1), Yan F, Monson EE, Kopelman R. Author information: (1)Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1055, USA. AAP quotes CDC medical officer Dr. Sarah Mbaeyi’s advice: “Pregnant women and healthcare providers should consider the level of COVID-19 community transmission, her personal risk of contracting COVID-19, the risks of COVID-19 to her and potential risk to the fetus, the efficacy of vaccine, side effects of the vaccine, and the lack of data about vaccine use during pregnancy.”. To determine the potential scope of this allergy in the US, the study teams searched FDA adverse event reports for immediate reactions to PEG 3350 and found an average of four cases per year were reported. However, testing is usually NOT necessary unless there is a history of a reaction where PEG is a possibility. With several people having anaphylactic reactions to this new vaccine, I’m wondering if it can be from PEG? The review, published in the journal JAMA, says the CDC’s continuing safety monitoring confirms “that anaphylaxis following vaccination is a rare event.”. … Alkis Togias, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Niagara Falls, NY We performed allergy studies: skin prick tests with common inhalants, pure ES and the components (polyethylene glycol 4000 (PEG 4000), KCI, NaCO3, NaPO3, NaSO3, NaCI, neohesperydine, potasic acesulfam and orange flavouring), intradermic test, total serum IgE and single-blind placebo oral challenge with ES and the components. Stone Jr., MD, MPH, and colleagues at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine sought to better understand the mechanism, cross-reactivity, and scope of PEG hypersensitivity for a study published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice. When it comes to triggers of the anaphylaxis cases following mRNA vaccine administration, there is much debate about polyethylene glycol (or PEG), since it is a component of both the mRNA vaccines. Reference. The risk of a severe case of coronavirus disease because of age or medical conditions. Immediate-type allergy to PEGs including anaphylaxis is rare. There is no confirmation of that, and drug allergy experts have told Allergic Living that anaphylaxis to PEG is quite rare. The U.S. Moderna rollout began on Dec. 21. However, Baker notes: “PEG derivatives that cause allergies usually involve some different protein. Your email address will not be published. Several readers asked about dairy and gelatin in relation to either dairy allergy or alpha-gal allergy. Mr. Harold, it seems that your prediction in May about the “use of PEG in the field of medicine…is a huge problem for me and a growing problem for our entire population” was a correct analysis. (For perspective, that’s slightly more than the population of Kansas City.). Most received epinephrine. Luckily i was able to control my symptoms at home, but i was terrified. If you have an allergy to polyethylene glycol, prep for a colonoscopy could be very dangerous. Next, when cells display the protein, “our immune systems will recognize that the protein doesn’t belong there and begin building an immune response and making antibodies, like what happens in natural infection against COVID-19.”. … Post treatment: Your severe reaction should be reported through the CDC’s Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS). On Dec. 15, a nurse in Juneau, Alaska became the first American to have an anaphylactic reaction to the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine. But mRNA vaccines work differently and contain no live virus.The CDC explains that these vaccines instead “teach our cells how to make a protein – or even just a piece of a protein – that triggers an immune response.” This leads the immune system to produce antibodies against the virus, which will protect an inoculated person who gets exposed to the real virus. This post is being updated regularly. Updated February 2, 2021. The CDC stresses that health-care providers administering the vaccine must have emergency equipment available, including epinephrine and antihistamines, blood pressure cuffs, and timing devices to check pulses. The second dose was when i realized i had an allergy. Health-care providers are required to report such adverse events. Esomprazole had 2 -week delayed reactions that lasted for 3 weeks. The CDC specifically says no gelatin or preservatives are used in either of the mRNA vaccines. Updated March 3 – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that almost 52 million people across the United States have had one or both shots of a COVID-19 vaccine as of Tuesday. In Britain, the initial rollout started on Dec. 8. Insights on the question above will be much appreciated. I needed surgery due to a snapped quadriceps tendon. The CDC said people who have had severe reactions to prior vaccines or injectable drugs can still get the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine. During clinical trials for the mRNA vaccines, what reactions and side effects were seen? “It was immediately clear that these patients were truly allergic when they had strongly positive skin tests to polyethylene glycol 3350 in the form of Miralax, to steroids containing the same ingredient and to steroids containing polysorbate 80,” says Dr. Stone. While it is not unusual to have a small percentage of reactions to drugs or vaccines, “never before has a vaccine received this level of public scrutiny,” says pediatric allergist and researcher Dr. Brian Vickery. Aluminum testing is part of a metals allergen test – see for example, this link. Yet, even at the slightly higher rate of anaphylaxis with the Pfizer vaccine, 999,995 of 1 million Americans had that vaccine with no anaphylaxis. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. I was very lucky being in the medical field and knowing what to look for i immediately took benadryl and called my doctor. • Had an immediate (or IgE-based) allergic reaction* of any severity to a previous dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine or any of its components, including polethylene glycol (or PEG). 1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in 90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more. We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. Allergy & Asthma Care of Fairfield County is pleased to now offer skin testing for polyethylene glycol and polysorbate, which are the components of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines thought responsible for most allergic reactions. If the answer is no , then it is not Polysorbate 80 that caused the allergy , it is something else. “The need to study this problem arose directly from encounters we had with two patients in our dedicated drug allergy clinic who had anaphylaxis after receiving injectable steroid medications and when trying to take their ‘prep’ for colonoscopies,” explains Dr. Stone. Bell’s Palsy fact-check: During the Pfizer trial, four cases of Bell’s palsy (temporary facial paralysis) emerged in the treatment group and there were four cases in the Moderna trial (three in the treatment group and one with a placebo patient). Allergy to PEG & GoLytely Colonoscopy Prep: A Dangerous Combination. Do not use if you have kidney disease, except under the advice and supervision of a doctor. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Propylene glycol-free products. Since polysorbate, an excipient found in medications and foods, can cross-react with PEG, patients with allergic reactions to polysorbate should not be immunized with the mRNA vaccines. Although the number of reported cases of anaphylaxis to the mRNA vaccines remains small relative to the shots administered, experts are trying to root out any common factors. Nancy Messonnier, director of CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, says anaphylaxis to either of the two mRNA vaccines is “exceedingly rare.” She has stressed that these are safe vaccines and that, when weighing benefits and risks, the COVID-19 virus remains the far greater health risk. Toronto, Ontario no anaphylaxis).• Family history of allergies. It had polysorbate 80 in it, so I could be confident she did not have a polysorbate allergy. 2018 Mar;78(3):211-215. doi: 10.1111/cod.12931. Dr. Erica Pan lifted that order on Jan. 21, following an evidence review by a Western States safety review committee and allergists as well as discussions with the FDA, CDC and Moderna. While not required, the agency also prefers that additional tools are available, including: a pulse oximeter, oxygen, albuterol and intravenous fluids. Information on ingredients of a vaccine or medication (including PEG, a PEG derivative, or polysorbates) can be found in the package insert. (See above: Who should not get an mRNA vaccine.) As some e cigarettes use PEG as a fluid emulsifier, I have to very careful in public to avoid vapor’s. The CDC counsels caution when considering vaccination for:A person with a history of anaphylaxis to another vaccine or a history of anaphylaxis to an injectable medication that’s not related to a component of mRNA vaccines or polysorbate. Stone Jr., MD, MPH, has indicated to Physician’s Weekly that he has no financial interests to disclose. Polyethylene glycols (PEGs) and their derivatives are non-ionic polymers of ethylene oxide commercially available with numerous synonyms, such as macrogol, oxyethylene polymer, and laureth-9. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. Can I get the COVID-19 vaccine if I’ve got food allergy, drug allergy, latex allergy or insect allergy? 14304. We put the polyethylene glycol (PEG) and soy allergy question to two experts: allergist and vaccine expert Dr. James Baker, director of the Mary H. Weiser Food Allergy Center at the University of Michigan, and Dr. Kimberly Blumenthal, allergist and the safety officer for allergy at Massachusetts General. It took me decades to put it all together. The CDC’s Jan. 6 COVID-19 vaccine allergic reactions report says: • 7 of the patients reported having anaphylaxis in the past. T.R.U.E. She was looking forward to participating in the research very much and this allowed her to participate. Polyethylene glycol “The mRNA vaccines from BioNTech/Pfizer contain polyethylene glycol (PEG).