July 12, 2021
Dr. Lakiea Wright
MD MAT MPH
Dr. Lakiea Wright is the Medical Director of U.S. Clinical Affairs in the Immunodiagnostics Division at Thermo Fisher Scientific and a board-certified physician in internal medicine and allergy and immunology.
She is a staff physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
This is both an incredibly hopeful time and a scary one. As of late April, all Americans ages 16 and older are eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccination.1 This is incredible news. However, there are a lot of questions and fears surrounding the vaccines, particularly for those with allergies. If you’re one of those people, you might be asking:
As an allergist, many of my patients have come to me for these answers in recent months. That’s why I decided to write this article and address what I believe are the five most important things you should know about COVID-19 vaccines when it comes to allergic reactions.
The short answer is probably yes. You should tell whoever is administering the vaccine about your allergies and concerns at the time of your appointment. They will answer your questions and will not give you the shot if it’s not safe to do so.
Here’s the longer answer, all based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC):2
When deciding whether to get the vaccine, discuss any concerns with your healthcare providers—severe allergic reactions to the vaccine ingredients are very rare.3,4
Find ingredient lists for the currently authorized vaccines below:
*An allergic reaction is considered severe when a person needs to be treated with epinephrine or if they must go to the hospital.2
Based on preliminary reports from the CDC, severe allergic reactions are reported to be five per million with the Pfizer vaccine occur and 2.5 per million with Moderna. The rate of severe allergic reactions to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine has not been reported.3
In all cases, reactions are extremely rare.
The exact details will vary from state to state, city to town, pharmacy to hospital, and so on. However, per CDC guidelines, you can expect the following precautions to be taken at your appointment:5
Severe allergic reactions to the vaccine can be treated. COVID-19 carries a huge variety of risks that cannot all be easily treated and are not fully understood, including
It’s uncertain what exact component is causing allergic reactions to the vaccines. The likely cause in the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines is an organic molecule called polyethylene glycol (PEG).2 PEG is found in different types of vaccines and medicines, most notably laxatives. If you are allergic to PEG, the CDC recommends that you do not receive the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.2
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine contains polysorbate 80, which is structurally similar to PEG, and may cause cross-reactivity.7
Symptoms can include:4
It’s OK to be concerned about the COVID-19 vaccine and allergies. Bring any questions or concerns you may have to your healthcare provider and consult reputable sites like the CDC for additional information to help guide your decision.
Please note that the COVID-19 situation is evolving every day. For the most up-to-date information, you should refer to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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