Allergies to COVID vaccines are extremely rare
Q: If I have had allergic reactions in the past, can I still get the COVID-19 vaccine?
A: It depends. Serious health problems as a result of getting a COVID-19 vaccine are extremely rare.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends all eligible people 12 and older get vaccinated even if they have a history of severe allergic reactions not related to vaccines or injectable medications. Such severe allergic reactions might be related to food, pets, venom, environmental triggers, oral medications, latex allergies or a family history of severe allergic reactions.
You should consult your doctor if you have previously experienced any sort of allergic reaction to a vaccine or injectable therapy for other diseases to ensure it is safe for you to get a COVID-19 vaccine. If you are allergic to polyethylene glycol or any other ingredient in an mRNA vaccine, you should not get an mRNA vaccine (which include the vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna) and speak with your doctor to confirm it is safe to get the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. If you are allergic to polysorbate or any other ingredient in the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, you should not get that vaccine and should speak with your doctor to confirm it is safe to get an mRNA vaccine. In any case, it is wise to speak with your doctor to learn about the safety and efficacy of the vaccines currently available.
Again, although serious health problems after vaccination are extremely rare, it is recommended that all individuals stay at the vaccination site where they received a COVID19 vaccine for at least 15 minutes so they can be observed in case of a severe allergic reaction. If you get a COVID-19 vaccine and believe you may be having a severe allergic reaction after leaving the vaccination site, call 911.
Dr. Todd Levin is a board-certified pediatric and adult allergy and asthma specialist with Chattanooga Allergy Clinic and a member of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society.