Coronavirus vaccine and allergies
The unprecedented experience of the pandemic with the unpleasant consequences of confinement and the huge change in lifestyle have caused fear and insecurity in a large part of the population.
The recent start of vaccination against the SARS-CoV-2 virus with the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine has caused a variety of emotions. Some welcomed the news with hope and relief, while others with suspicion. The appearance of 2 cases of allergic reaction has troubled both the scientific community and the general population, but especially allergic people.
With many more unanswered questions under investigation by the scientific community, it would be good to clarify what is already known and scientifically proven, so as not to cause panic for the wrong reasons.
Who is exempted
The temporary exemption from vaccination concerns exclusively those individuals who have a history of severe anaphylactic reactions to medications or vaccines and in no case all allergic individuals. The temporary exemption is needed until proper scientific data is collected and clear instructions are given for safely vaccinating these individuals as well.
The American College of Allergy/Immunologists and the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) have released guidelines on the subject:
- Allergic reactions to vaccines are rare, with the probability of an anaphylactic reaction estimated at 1.31 per million vaccinations.
- People with common allergies to drugs, foods, inhalant allergens or insects, or who are allergic to latex, are not at greater risk of developing an allergic reaction to the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine than the rest of the population. In short, people who suffer from allergic rhinitis, asthma, food allergies or are allergic to hymenoptera can be vaccinated normally. However, people suffering from asthma or rhinitis should not be in an exacerbation phase of symptoms or should be evaluated by their doctor in the opposite case, so that their treatment can be adjusted appropriately.
- Vaccination should be carried out in a health care facility where the possible anaphylactic reaction can be treated promptly and correctly.
- Because the allergic reactions are likely to have been caused by a vaccine excipient called Polyethylene Glycol (which is added to stabilize the vaccine), which is known to cause rare allergic reactions, people who have experienced an allergy to this excipient should be excluded. It should be noted that this ingredient is contained in many widely used medications.
- Individuals who have had an allergic reaction to medications or vaccines, have mast cell disorder syndrome, or have idiopathic anaphylaxis should consult their allergist to investigate and assess the potential risk of reaction, as well as to weigh the potential risk against the benefit of vaccination.
- The Pfizer / BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine does not contain live virus and therefore can be administered to immunosuppressed patients.
What we do not know at this time is whether the immune system of these individuals will develop adequate defense at rates equal to those of non-immunosuppressed individuals, therefore whether these individuals will be protected from the disease in the event of infection by the virus.
It is worth noting that the rates of adequate response of immunosuppressed individuals to existing vaccines, such as the flu vaccine, are lower than those of non-immunosuppressed individuals.
What must be clear and must be known to all individuals who wish to be vaccinated and protect themselves and vulnerable groups by leading to herd immunity, i.e. collective immunity, through mass vaccination, is that if they have a history of allergy, they should inform their doctor so that they can receive appropriate instructions or guidance for evaluating their allergy from an allergist for their safe vaccination.
