Man whose skin peeled in rare Covid-19 vaccine reaction says it’s still worth taking it

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A man whose skin turned bright red and ‘peeled off’ due to an extremely rare reaction to the Covid vaccine has urged people to continue getting the jab regardless.

 Richard Terrell, 74, from Virginia, US, was given the Johnson and Johnson vaccine on March 6 and within days developed an itchy rash all over his body. 

When the blotchiness wouldn’t die down, he was taken to ER and doctors confirmed the skin condition had been caused by the vaccine which had sparked a ‘frenzied’ activation of his immune system.

 A mum in Scotland has suffered a similar reaction to getting the AstraZeneca jab in the UK but experts have reassured people that all jabs currently being used are safe and effective.

 Richard spent five days in hospital and is still recovering his strength but says he has no regrets about getting jabbed.

He told WRIC: ‘It all happened so fast. My skin peeled off. It was stinging, burning and itching. ‘Whenever I bent my arms or legs, like the inside of my knee, it was very painful where the skin was swollen and was rubbing against itself.’  

Some rashes and skin irritations have been associated with the Covid vaccine. But other, more established vaccines for conditions such as teanus and chickenpox, can also cause a similar reaction.

Medics say the benefits of getting inoculated far outweigh the risks. The Johnson and Johnson jab is not yet being used in the UK but clinical trials have established it is 85% effective at preventing severe disease from Covid. 

Richard’s doctor, Fnu Nutan, said she suspected that her patient may have some rare genetic traits that interacted with some of the vaccine ingredients and triggered the painful reaction. She said: ‘If you look at the risk for adverse reaction for the vaccine it’s really, really low. We haven’t seen a great concern at all. I am a big proponent of the vaccine.’ 

 Meanwhile, mum Leigh King, 41, from Wishaw, near Glasgow, has described how she is still in pain two weeks after getting the AstraZeneca vaccine.

She told the Wishaw Press her body broke out in a burning rash shortly after being jabbed at the Ravenscraig supercentre Leigh said: ‘My skin was so sore and constantly hot. I have never felt pain like this it has been a horrible experience. ‘I am a very healthy person and am not on any medication or anything like that. I am not even in a vulnerable category.

‘I only got the vaccine as I am an unpaid carer for my son who has autism and mobility issues. ‘I haven’t even been able to care for him since I got the vaccine as I am in such pain.’

Leigh went to A&E three times and is currently waiting to see a skin specialist to determine exactly what happened. She said her experience hasn’t diminished her faith in the vaccine but has called for the NHS to offer more follow-up care and wants people to be aware of potential side-effects. The NHS wouldn’t comment on individual cases but reiterated that the vaccine has passed rigorous safety tests.