Allergy History May Up Risk for Reactions to mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine

THURSDAY, Nov. 4, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Self-reported history of high-risk allergy is associated with an increased risk for self-reported allergic reactions within three days of mRNA COVID-19 vaccination among health care workers, according to a study published online Oct. 26 in JAMA Network Open.

Lily Li, M.D., from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, and colleagues examined the association between self-reported history of high-risk allergy and self-reported allergic reactions after mRNA COVID-19 vaccination among 52,998 health care workers (72 percent women) vaccinated between Dec. 14, 2020, and Feb. 1, 2021.

The researchers reported that 97.6 percent of the health care workers received two doses of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine and 0.9 percent reported a history of high-risk allergy. Individuals with a high-risk allergy history reported more allergic reactions after receiving dose 1 or 2 of the vaccine (11.6 percent versus 4.7 percent without a history). A history of high-risk allergy was associated with an increased risk for allergic reactions (adjusted relative risk, 2.46), with the highest risk seen for hives (adjusted relative risk, 3.81) and angioedema (adjusted relative risk, 4.36).

“Reported allergy symptoms did not impede the completion of the two-dose vaccine protocol among a cohort of eligible health care employees, supporting the overall safety of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine,” the authors write.

Several authors disclosed financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry.

Abstract/Full Text