A new study from the Stanford University School of Medicine has found that allergic reactions to the new mRNA-based COVID vaccines are rare, typically mild, and treatable, according to Science Daily.
The study, published online last week in JAMA Network Open, analyzed 22 potential allergic reactions to Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.
Senior author Dr. Kari Nadeau said, “We wanted to understand the spectrum of allergies to the new vaccines and understand what was causing them.”
The researchers found that most participants who developed reactions were allergic to one ingredient that helps stabilize the vaccines. However, they did not show any allergic reaction to the vaccines’ main components that provide immunity to the virus.
Also, they found that these allergic reactions were mild, making them easier to treat.
Dr. Nadeau said, “It’s nice to know these reactions are manageable. Having an allergic reaction to these new vaccines is uncommon, and if it does happen, there’s a way to manage it.”
“The research also suggests how vaccine manufacturers can reformulate the vaccines to make them less likely to trigger allergic responses,” she added.
Of all the participants, 15 had prior histories of drug allergies, including 10 to antibiotics, nine to foods, and eight to non-antibiotic medications, according to Science Daily.
Dr. Nadeau said, “What’s important is what we didn’t find, as much as what we did find. It does not seem that the mRNA itself causes the allergic reactions.”
Furthermore, the findings suggest that allergic reactions to the COVID-19 vaccines were not severe, which is good news as far as the safety of the vaccines is concerned, according to Dr. Nadeau.
The researchers said that allergic reactions mediated by IgG and basophils are treatable with antihistamines, corticosteroids, fluids, and close observation. This suggests that most people who have reacted to their first dose can safely take the second dose under medical supervision.
