Serious allergic reaction to 2nd COVID-19 jab rare, even after reaction to 1st dose

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2022-02-22 03:00

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People who have an immediate allergic reaction to their first COVID-19 vaccine dose are unlikely to have the same reaction when they go back for their second dose, according to an international meta-analysis. Combining the results of 22 studies of mRNA vaccines Pfizer and Moderna, the researchers looked at the rates of immediate allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis to the second dose among those who reacted to their first. They say that, among 1,366 people who had a reaction to their first dose, six had a severe allergic reaction to the second and 232 developed mild symptoms. Among 78 people whose reaction to their first dose was classified as severe, four had a severe reaction again and 15 developed mild symptoms after their second. No deaths were recorded across the studies, and researchers say this data supports re-vaccinating people even if they react to their first dose if done in a supervised setting where any reaction can be managed.