Doctor: COVID vaccines safe for allergic people
(12 Jan 2021) FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4305791 Most people with allergies should be safe taking the COVID-19 vaccine, says a University of Washington doctor. Dr. Doug Paauw (pow) says concerns grew around the vaccines during the initial rollout when reports of people experiencing anaphylactic reactions emerged. "That was not seen in the in the Pfizer or Moderna phase 3 clinical trials," Dr. Paauw said. "So when it first happened, it was a bit of a, not a surprise because we know almost all vaccinations that's a small, small risk; but they didn't have a number on it because they had seen it. And that's led to a lot of a lot of the concern that people have had." The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has counted at least 29 people developing severe allergic reactions to new COVID-19 vaccines out of 5.3 million people who have been vaccinated. The 29 had suffered anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction that can be controlled through an epinephrine injection. That's a rate of about 5.5 cases per million people, which is roughly four times higher than the rate seen in a study of people who got flu shots. CDC officials said the rate will change as more vaccinations are given and side effects reports are investigated. But in both sets of data, the anaphylaxis risk from vaccination remains lower than the danger of severe illness and death from the coronavirus, officials say. The agency is advising that clinics giving the shots have epinephrine on hand, and that people with a history of allergic reactions to medicines, foods or insect stings stay for 30 minutes after a shot for observation. Anyone who has a severe reaction to a first dose should not get a second dose of the vaccine, CDC says. One upcoming study will track reactions of people with history of allergies starting before the vaccine is administered, Dr. Paauw said. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
