Doctors: Allergy sufferers concerned about getting vaccine

With plants and trees blooming, many Connecticut residents are deep in the throes of spring allergy season with all of the sneezing, sniffling and watery eyes that happen this time of year.

Some of those allergy sufferers are considering getting a vaccine to protect themselves against COVID-19 — and they have a lot of questions, doctors say.

“The question of ‘Is it safe to get the vaccine or will my allergies put me at risk?’ is the No. 1 question I’ve gotten the last couple of months,” said Dr. Philip Hemmers, head of the department of allergy and immunology at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport.

“People are concerned,” echoed Dr. Kenneth Backman, chairman of the section of allergy at Bridgeport Hospital.

In addition to worrying about whether their allergies put them at risk for side effects from the COVID vaccines, some patients also wondered whether their allergy medications might have dangerous interactions with the vaccines. But experts said most allergy sufferers — including those who take medications — should not have any problems with the vaccine.

According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, “the only contraindication is a history of a severe allergic reaction to any of the vaccine components, including sensitivity to PEG (polyethylene glycol) and/or polysorbate, which cross reacts with PEG.” It’s safe for people with most other allergies, including those to food and environmental triggers, experts said.

“Even someone with a life-threatening food allergy is not at risk for the vaccine,” Hemmers said.

An allergic reaction happens when the body’s immune system has an extreme response to a substance, such as dust, pollen or a certain food. The College

of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology reports that more than 50 million Americans suffer from allergies every year, and allergies are the sixth-leading cause of chronic illness in the United States.

One common form of allergies is allergic rhinitis, commonly called hay fever, which is often seasonal and more prevalent in the spring, summer and fall. Many people take medications for their hay fever, and Hemmers and Backman both said there’s little concerns about interactions between most of these medications and the COVID vaccine.

For instance, antihistamines that people take to combat the watery eyes and other symptoms of seasonal allergies are fine. Oral steroids, such as Prednisone, aren’t necessarily harmful in combination with the vaccine, but Backman recommends that people on those medications speak to a doctor before getting the shot.

“They may make the vaccine less effective,” he said.

Hemmers said being on a steroid “isn’t a reason to not get (the vaccine) and it’s pretty unlikely it will have a significant effect on efficacy. It should still work.”

There are some precautions for people taking allergy medications. For instance, the College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology cautions getting the vaccine on the same day as an allergy shot. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a minimum of 14 days before or after administering other vaccines, such as the flu shot.

In general, though, allergy sufferers should be fine to get the vaccine, Hemmer said. Of all the people who have asked questions about the vaccine, only one has opted not to get it, because of a possible allergy to one of the vaccine components, he said.

“A lot of people have needed additional assurance from me, but most have eventually decided to get the vaccine,” he said.