Abstract
The aim of vaccination is to trigger an antigen-specific immune response in order to protect the organism from an infectious disease. Rarely, vaccination can trigger excessive immune reactions. Here, we report on the results of consultations and allergy testing carried out by allergy centers in Germany in 2021. Approximately 8,000 requested consultations were reported by a total of 13 centers, with direct contact by phone and/or in person (n = 2,467). The results show that only in exceptional cases the recommendation for vaccination could not be given or could be given only in conjunction with intensified safety measures. Based on 3 exemplary cases, we show the allergy testing procedure in 3 selected patients who were successfully vaccinated with good tolerability of the vaccine. An important differential diagnosis of immediate reactions in the context of vaccination are vasovagal reactions. A possible distinction criterion is the absence of skin symptoms, such as urticaria or swelling of the mucous membranes. The Germany-wide allergist capacity was pushed to its limits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, the indication for further allergy diagnostics should be critically considered in order to avoid unnecessary skin tests. The early implementation of a standardized procedure made it possible to show that the risk of allergy to a COVID-19 vaccine is very low.
Translated title of the contribution | SARS-CoV-2 and allergy - what have we learned? |
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Original language | German |
Pages (from-to) | 382-391 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Allergologie |
Volume | 46 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 2023 |
Externally published | Yes |