Low Risk Seen for Second Allergic Reaction to mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine

TUESDAY, Feb. 22, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with an allergic reaction to their first dose of mRNA severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination, the risk for repeated immediate allergic and severe immediate allergic reactions associated with a second dose is low, according to a review published online Feb. 21 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Derek K. Chu, M.D., Ph.D., from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, and colleagues conducted a systematic review to examine the risk for severe immediate allergic reactions to a second dose of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine among individuals with an immediate allergic reaction to the first dose. Data were included from 22 studies, with 1,366 individuals who had immediate allergic reactions to their first vaccination.

The researchers found that six patients developed severe immediate allergic reactions after their second vaccination (absolute risk, 0.16 percent) and 1,360 (99.84 percent) tolerated the dose. Overall, 232 patients (13.65 percent) experienced mild immediate nonsevere symptoms with their second dose. Of the 78 people with severe immediate allergic reactions to their first SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination, four (4.94 percent) and 15 (9.54 percent) had a second severe immediate reaction and nonsevere symptoms, respectively. No deaths were reported.

"Although further research is warranted, these findings support the safe revaccination of individuals with an allergic reaction to a first SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine dose in a setting equipped to manage severe allergic reactions, if they were to occur," the authors write.

Several authors disclosed financial ties to pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer.

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