Re-Administration Experience Following Allergic Reaction After Vaccination with BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19

Objective: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a novel human coronavirus, has caused the global COVID-19 pandemic. Allergic reactions and anaphylaxis have been reported rarely following the release of the COVID-19 vaccine. In general, administration of the second dose to patients experiencing an adverse reaction after the first dose was considered contraindicated, whereas full-dose vaccination is now recommended. Although uneventful administration of a second dose is also mentioned in the current literature, management is not standardized in this regard. Our aim was to establish a successful re-administration protocol in patients with a history of allergic reaction to the first dose of vaccine and to safely vaccinate the most people with the least amount of vaccine. Materials and Methods: Nine patients presenting to our clinic between September 2021 and November 2021 were evaluated. Allergy skin tests with PEG 3350 and PS 80 were planned. With the results, existing literature protocols were modified according to the conditions and applied with gradual dose increase/desensitization. Results: Despite the reactions that developed after the first dose of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine, 8 patients were successfully re-administered. Conclusion: We believe that recommendations for successful vaccination with gradual dose increase/desensitization will be beneficial for patients and clinicians in the treatment of patients who develop an allergic reaction with the first dose, in the current period when re-administration is advocated.

Automated summary

This study aimed to establish a successful re-administration protocol for patients who experienced allergic reactions to the first dose of the vaccine and safely vaccinate as many people as possible. By evaluating nine patients and conducting allergy skin tests, it was found that gradual dose increase/desensitization was effective in re-administering the vaccine.