'Really reassuring': Israeli study on COVID-19 vaccine finds low risk of reaction among those with history of allergies
About 98 per cent of people with a history of multiple allergies suffered no allergic reactions after receiving a Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, according to a study conducted in Israel and published recently online in JAMA Network Open.
Of the approximately 2 per cent who did react, none required hospitalization, and symptoms cleared up with medication within a few hours.
“That's really reassuring,” said Dr. Donald Vinh, an immunologist at the MUHC, who explained the study is important because it replicates previous but smaller studies with similar results.
Another point highlighted by the study is that “even if you had a reaction to the first dose of your Pfizer vaccine, you can still go ahead and proceed with your second dose with essentially no risk of having a recurrence of that same allergic reaction,” Vinh said in an interview with CTV News, after reviewing the publication.
Vinh said this brings to the forefront what most studies have shown, “which is concern about allergies should not be a reason to avoid getting the COVID vaccines.”
SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE
To reinforce that advice, Vinh offered encouragement to those with allergies who have held off getting a vaccine thus far, adding vaccines are administered in supervised settings in Quebec.
“They have the trained personnel, the equipment, and the necessary emergency medications in case there's an allergic reaction,” Vinh said.
People are pre-screened for allergies and any contraindications before receiving the shots and are monitored for at least 15 minutes afterward.
Even a serious reaction like anaphylaxis can be treated on the spot, he says.
The Israeli study had a similar framework in place but monitored individuals deemed to be at high risk for two hours following the injections.
The authors concluded that “only patients defined as highly allergic should receive vaccination under medical supervision.”
It’s not known how many Quebecers are shying away from vaccination because of fears related to allergies to food, medications, or environmental factors.
Vinh said it doesn’t appear to be an overwhelming number of people, but is a sizable proportion nonetheless, who should be “reassured,” by this research, and get vaccinated.
ALLERGY FEARS PRESENT AN OBSTACLE
Questions about allergy risks prompted the Sheba Medical Centre in Israel to open a COVID-19 referral centre when the country first rolled out its Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination campaign eight months ago.
“Concerns regarding safety and, particularly, severe allergic reactions to this vaccine are a significant obstacle to implementation of this large immunization program,” the study's authors wrote.
Between December 2020 to February 2021, researchers assessed 8,102 participants for allergy risks according to certain criteria.
There were 429 individuals in the group considered to be at high risk for allergic reactions, which amounted to 5 per cent of the total number of participants.
Women made up the majority of the high-risk group (70.9 per cent), with 63.2 per cent of the entire group reporting prior anaphylaxis.
Following immunization with the first dose, nine women had allergic reactions within the two-hour observation period.
Six of them had minor reactions including skin flushing, tongue or uvula swelling, or a cough that diminished after treatment with an antihistamine.
Three women had anaphylactic reactions 10 to 20 minutes after getting the shot, among other symptoms.
They were treated with several medications including adrenaline and antihistamines. The symptoms resolved with 2 to 6 hours and no one required hospitalization.
When it came time for the second dose, four patients from the highly allergic group had mild allergic reactions.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.
'A huge difference': These adults born in the '90s partnered with their parents to buy homes in Ontario
An Ontario woman said it would have been impossible to buy a house without her mother – an anecdote that animates the fact that over 17 per cent of Canadian homeowners born in the ‘90s own their property with their parents, according to a new report.
OPINION No reunion between Prince Harry and the King signifies a setback for royal unity
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
How Drake and Kendrick Lamar's rap beef escalated within weeks
A long-simmering feud between hip-hop superstars Drake and Kendrick Lamar reached a boiling point in recent days as the pair traded increasingly personal insults on a succession of diss tracks. Here’s a quick overview of what’s behind the ongoing beef.
NEW For their protection, immigrants critical of China and India call for speedy passage of Canada's foreign interference legislation
Canadian immigrants threatened by hostile regimes are urging parliamentarians to quickly pass the 'Countering Foreign Interference Act' so they can feel safe living in their adopted home.
Ontario man devastated to learn $150,000 line of credit isn't insured after wife dies
An Ontario man found out that a line of credit he thought was insured actually isn't after his wife of 50 years died.
Spanish prosecutors recommend 2nd investigation into Shakira's taxes be thrown out
Spanish state prosecutors recommended Wednesday that an investigating judge shelve a probe into another alleged case of tax fraud by pop star Shakira.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.