“Allergic individuals at low risk for severe reactions to COVID-19 vaccines, according to BUAP study”

people with some allergy they can develop some reactions; however, they are not adverse or serious when placing any of the vaccines against the Sars-Cov-2 virus that causes the disease covid-19

According to research carried out by a team of doctors from the Allergy and Clinical Immunology Service of the Puebla University Hospital (HUP) of the Meritorious Autonomous University of Puebla (BUAP), 40 percent of the people who presented an allergy and were vaccinated, were sensitive to components of the biologicals such as polyethylene glycol and polysorbate 80; however, it was found that can be vaccinated without risk to develop severe reactions.

As part of the investigation, the specialists performed Prick and intradermal tests on 55 HUP beneficiaries, between the ages of 18 and 60, with a diagnosis of allergic disease, such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis or atopic dermatitis.

The majority were women, with a mean age of 31 years, and the most frequent disease was allergic rhinitis. All the tests were carried out when the patient was already vaccinated or had a complete schedule.

Edgar Flores Gonzagagraduated from Specialty in Allergy and Clinical Immunology of the BUAP, highlighted that the first results reveal that, of the total number of patients, 22 presented sensitivity to polyethylene glycol and polysorbate, used as stabilizers of vaccines against the virus, that is, 40 percent had a high rate of sensitization to the aforementioned components and in special to polysorbate 80.

“It was proven that allergic patients can be vaccinated without the risk of developing a serious adverse reaction after the vaccine,” determined Flores Gonzaga.

Polyethylene glycol is found in vaccines Pfizer and Moderna; while polysorbate in AstraZeneca, Sputnik and Cansino. These components are excipients and allow the effect of the biological to be prolonged for a longer time. The two components can cause adverse reactions such as anaphylaxis, skin rash, difficulty breathing, low blood pressure, loss of consciousness, or gastrointestinal tract involvement manifested by nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

“Patients may have had prior sensitization from being exposed to a certain medication or from the use of cosmetics. This also coincides with other studies in which women had a higher degree of sensitization ”, she pointed out.

In the case of HUP recipients, the majority had another type of reaction, mainly muscle pain or fever hours after the vaccine application.

The study, which was directed by the researcher Chrystopherson Gengyny Caballero López and which included the participation of the residents and head doctors of the Allergy and Clinical Immunology Service of the HUP, Aida Ines Lopez Garcia, Daniela Rivero Yeverino, Juan Jesus Rios Lopez and Sergio Papaqui Tapia, allowed to establish guidelines or recommendations on future vaccination.

“In the event that they are sensitized or have had an adverse reaction to polyethylene glycol, it is recommended to apply vaccines without this component. The purpose is to minimize the presence of adverse reactions in future application schemes”, concluded Flores Gonzaga.

AAC