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Get Clarity on COVID-19
Allergic Reactions to COVID-19 Vaccine Explained
Dr. Reena Mehta is a board-certified immunologist in New Orleans, LA that can help you navigate COVID-19 vaccination and any other COVID related health concerns that you have.
“The staff at Uptown Allergy & Asthma is wonderful, very caring and patient. Dr. Reena Mehta took her time with me going over all my symptoms and past treatments. She was very assuring when she talked about getting to the bottom of my symptoms. She is great.“
– Savina B, October 2021
Allergic Reactions to COVID-19 Vaccine Ingredients
Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA COVID-19 vaccine ingredients list:
• Nucleoside-modified mRNA encoding the viral spike (S) glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2
• 2[(polyethylene glycol)-2000]-N,N-ditetradecylacetamide
• 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine
• Cholesterol
• (4-hydroxybutyl)azanediyl)bis(hexane-6,1-diyl)bis(2-hexyldecanoate)
• Potassium chloride
• Monobasic potassium phosphate
• Sodium chloride
• Dibasic sodium phosphate dihydrate
• Sucrose
Moderna vaccine ingredients list:
• Nucleoside-modified mRNA encoding the viral spike (S) glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2
• PEG2000-DMG: 1,2-dimyristoyl-rac-glycerol, methoxypolyethylene glycol
• 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine
• Cholesterol
• SM-102: heptadecan-9-yl 8-((2-hydroxyethyl) (6-oxo-6-(undecyloxy) hexyl) amino) octanoate
• Tromethamine
• Tromethamine hydrochloride
• Acetic Acid
• Sodium Acetate
• Sucrose
Allergic Reactions to the First Dose
It is normal to experience some unpleasant side effects after receiving a dose of a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine. These side effects are not necessarily indicative of an allergic reaction and should go away in a few days. Common side effects include:
• Pain at the site of injection
• Swelling at the site of injection
• Fever
• Chills
• Fatigue
• Headache
If you do have an allergic reaction to the vaccine, it will usually occur within the first few minutes of being injected. Any reaction requiring epinephrine treatment or hospitalization is considered a severe allergic reaction. Early vaccine guidance stated that individuals who experienced a severe reaction to the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine should not pursue a second dose. However, more recent studies have demonstrated that patients can safely get a second dose with proper premedication and oversight from an allergist, even if they’ve had a severe (or mild) allergic reaction to the first dose. If you had a reaction to your first dose (either mild or severe) and are concerned about your second dose, we recommend scheduling a consultation with Dr. Mehta to learn how you can get vaccinated while minimizing allergic reactions.
How Common are Allergic Reactions to the COVID-19 Vaccines?
During the rollout of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine from December 14, 2020 to December 23, 2020, 21 cases of anaphylaxis occurred after administration of a reported 1,893,360 first doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. This equates to 11 cases of anaphylaxis per million doses.
No anaphylaxis-related deaths were reported for either vaccine rollout, and most cases of anaphylaxis occurred within 15 minutes of vaccination.
More recent data from a study of 52,805 healthcare employees of the Mass General Brigham health care system reported a higher rate of anaphylaxis, stating that anaphylaxis occurred in 247 cases per million individuals vaccinated. This study also looked closer at individuals with history of severe allergic reactions, and found that about 1 in 10 (11.6%) had an allergic reaction to a vaccine dose compared to about 1 in 20 (4.7%) of those without a history of severe allergic reactions. Importantly, the study concluded that allergy symptoms did not impede the completion of the 2-dose vaccine protocol among a cohort of eligible health care employees, supporting the overall safety of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine even in individuals with allergies.
Talking to Your Allergist About COVID-19 Vaccination
• Have a history of severe anaphylaxis
• Have had a non-severe but immediate allergic reaction to another vaccine or injectable therapy
• Are on prescription medications, such as daily oral steroids, that may interfere with the antibody response to the COVID-19 vaccine
• Suspect that you’re allergic to an ingredient in the COVID-19 vaccines
• Had an allergic reaction to your first dose of the vaccine
COVID-19 Vaccine Allergy Skin Testing
COVID-19 Vaccine Allergy Blood Testing
Blood samples for these lab tests should only be collected once a patient is medically stabilized. Ideally, blood samples should be collected between 30 and 90 minutes after the start of the allergic reaction, when certain markers are still elevated. Blood samples may still be helpful even if collected up to 6 hours after a reaction.
Get Clarity on COVID-19 in New Orleans
Dr. Mehta is providing telemedicine visits to answer your questions about COVID-19, allergies, and asthma and help you through any health concerns that you might have about the virus and the vaccine. Dr. Mehta has a reputation for developing strong relationships with her patients and being exceptionally attentive to their needs and concerns.
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