Abstract

For the COVID-19 vaccines used in Germany, severe allergic (anaphylactic) reactions after vaccination have been reported in very rare cases. While Comirnaty and Spikevax are mRNA vaccines, Vaxzevria and Jcovden comprise vector vaccines, and Nuvaxovid a recombinant spike protein vaccine. The reporting rate of anaphylaxis after mRNA vaccination was higher in females receiving their first vaccination dose, with 0.97 and 1.12 reports per 100,000 vaccinations for Comirnaty and Spikevax, respectively, compared with vaccinated males and subsequent vaccinations. The Paul-Ehrlich-Institut (PEI) investigated 106 responses of 321 cases of confirmed anaphylactic reactions concerning subsequent allergy testing and revaccination with a COVID-19 vaccine. The collected data indicate that only a small proportion of cases (22%) were IgE-mediated reactions. A large proportion (73%) of patients could be revaccinated under precautionary measures without recurrence of anaphylaxis. The pathomechanism of the majority of anaphylactic reactions remains unclear and should be investigated in further studies.

Author Details

Authors

• Immanuel Barth¹
• Karin Weißer¹
• Dominique Gaston-Tischberger¹
• Vera Mahler²
• Brigitte Keller-Stanislawski¹

Departments

• ¹ Division Safety of Medicinal Products and Medical Devices, and
• ² Division Allergology, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany

Address

Dr. Immanuel Barth, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Paul-Ehrlich-Straße 7, 63325 Langen
Email: [email protected]

Citation