Following two reported serious reactions from Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine in the United Kingdom, a local health expert is giving recommendations on the vaccine as the city prepares to receive its first doses in just days. 

Advice from allergist and immunologist Dr. Purvi Parikh for people with severe allergies is to wait for guidelines from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration when deciding whether to get Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccination once it’s available. 

This comes after reports of two cases of serious allergic reactions in the UK this week, something Dr. Parikh says is very rare. 

"Most recent reports show that you're more likely to actually get hit by lightning than have especially a life-threatening allergic reaction to vaccines,” said Dr. Parikh. 

The doctor cited a number of possible reasons for the reactions, one being the patients could have been allergic to a specific ingredient in the vaccine. 

However, with the city’s vaccine distribution expected to get underway next week and public trust remaining a challenge, Dr. Purikh who took part in the clinical trials, assures the vaccine is safe. 

"The virus is much scarier than the vaccine. We're losing as many people as 9/11 on a daily basis. And I let people know that these vaccines have been tested very thoroughly,” said Dr. Purikh. 

Dr. Parikh recommends that people with severe allergies who would like to take the vaccine should first talk to their doctor. 

"I would sit down and discuss it with your allergist or your physician, the risk and benefits, and for the general public, the vaccine isn't going to be available immediately anyway, so I think by that time, by time it is available we'll have very clear guidelines,” said Dr. Parikh.