Second-dose COVID-19 vaccines are well tolerated in patients with allergic reactions to the first dose – a single center experience

Viktoria Puxkandl, MD; Theresa Bangerl, MD; Kathrin Hanfstingl, MD; Emmanuella Guenova, MD; Wolfram Hoetzenecker, MD; Sabine Altrichter, MD

World Allergy Organization Journal (Jun 2022)

Second-dose COVID-19 vaccines are well tolerated in patients with allergic reactions to the first dose – a single center experience

Viktoria Puxkandl, MD,
Theresa Bangerl, MD,
Kathrin Hanfstingl, MD,
Emmanuella Guenova, MD,
Wolfram Hoetzenecker, MD,
Sabine Altrichter, MD

Affiliations

Viktoria Puxkandl, MD: Department of Dermatology, Comprehensive Allergy Center, Kepler University Hospital Linz & Johannes Kepler University, Linz, Austria.
Theresa Bangerl, MD: Department of Dermatology, Comprehensive Allergy Center, Kepler University Hospital Linz & Johannes Kepler University, Linz, Austria.
Kathrin Hanfstingl, MD: Department of Dermatology, Comprehensive Allergy Center, Kepler University Hospital Linz & Johannes Kepler University, Linz, Austria.
Emmanuella Guenova, MD: Department of Dermatology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland
Wolfram Hoetzenecker, MD: Department of Dermatology, Comprehensive Allergy Center, Kepler University Hospital Linz & Johannes Kepler University, Linz, Austria.; Correspoding author. Kepler University Hospital Linz & Johannes Kepler University, Comprehensive Allergy Center Department of Dermatology, Linz, Austria
Sabine Altrichter, MD: Department of Dermatology, Comprehensive Allergy Center, Kepler University Hospital Linz & Johannes Kepler University, Linz, Austria.; Institute for Allergology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 15, no. 6
p. 100654

Abstract

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COVID-19 vaccines contain additives such as Polyethylenglycol-2000 (PEG2000; mRNA vaccines) or Polysorbat 80 (vector vaccines), which have been described previously as culprits for anaphylactic events.This retrospective study included 46 individuals, who were referred to Comprehensive Allergy Center at the Department Dermatology and Venereology, Kepler University Hospital, Linz, Austria, with suspected allergic reactions to the first COVID-19 vaccine dose with either mRNA or vector-based vaccines.Patients underwent detailed anamnesis, clinical examination, and in most cases, skin prick testing using pure additive substances (PEG – different molecular weights, Polysorbate 80).Out of 46, 7 patients’ reactions were classified as possibly anaphylactic and graded according to Ring & Messmer. Forty patients out of 46 were assessed with skin prick tests for potential allergens in COVID-19 vaccines. Only 1 patient showed an immediate positive prick test to PEG2000. Second-dose vaccination with mRNA or vector-based vaccines were tolerated well in all patients, including the individual with a positive skin prick test against PEG2000.The currently available COVID-19 vaccines have an overall low allergic potential and may be administered safely in patients with suspected allergic reactions to the first dose.

Published in World Allergy Organization Journal

ISSN: 1939-4551 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Specialties of internal medicine: Immunologic diseases. Allergy
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/world-allergy-organization-journal/

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Abstract

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