Allergic reactions after COVID-19 vaccination
Until June 2022 The Netherlands Pharmacovigilance Centre Lareb received almost 4000 reports of symptoms possibly related to acute allergic reactions based on estimated 36 million given COVID-vaccines. Serious reactions such as anaphylaxis are rare, with a reporting rate of about 10 per million first vaccine doses.
Anaphylaxis is defined by the World Allergy Organisation as a severe, life-threatening systemic
hypersensitivity reaction characterized by being rapid in onset with potentially life-threatening airway, breathing, or circulatory problems and is usually, although not always, associated with skin and mucosal changes. Acute allergic reactions are expected to occur within 15-30 minutes. If someone experiences symptoms of anaphylaxis, a medical professional must be informed immediately.
In the Netherlands, a total of 3955 reports of symptoms possibly related to acute allergic conditions were received, concerning 90 reports of anaphylaxis, 298 reports of allergic reactions (not meeting anaphylaxis criteria), 1772 reports of angioedema and 1429 reports of urticaria following vaccine administration with COVID-19 vaccines. Another 366 reports describe aggravation of existing allergic conditions or new onset of certain allergies, after administration of a COVID-19 vaccine.
The majority of people with symptoms possibly related to acute allergic symptoms concern adult women with the first dose of any COVID-19 vaccine. Two-thirds mentioned a medical history of any kind allergy. The reporting rates with COVID-19 vaccines in The Netherlands are quite similar to those mentioned in literature. Relatively few reported a recurrence of allergic symptoms with more than one dose, which is consistent with other studies.