Practical recommendations for the allergological risk assessment of the COVID-19 vaccination - a harmonized statement of allergy centers in Germany

Margitta Worm; Andrea Bauer; Bettina Wedi; Regina Treudler; Wolfgang Pfuetzner; Knut Brockow; Timo Buhl; Torsten Zuberbier; Joachim Fluhr; Gerda Wurpts; Ludger Klimek; Thilo Jakob; Hans F Merk; Norbert Mülleneisen; Stefani Roeseler; Heinrich Dickel; Ulrike Raap; Jörg Kleine-Tebbe

doi:10.5414/ALX02225E

Practical recommendations for the allergological risk assessment of the COVID-19 vaccination - a harmonized statement of allergy centers in Germany

Allergol Select. 2021 Jan 26:5:72-76. doi: 10.5414/ALX02225E. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Margitta Worm¹, Andrea Bauer², Bettina Wedi³, Regina Treudler⁴, Wolfgang Pfuetzner⁵, Knut Brockow⁶, Timo Buhl⁷, Torsten Zuberbier⁸, Joachim Fluhr⁸, Gerda Wurpts⁹, Ludger Klimek¹⁰, Thilo Jakob¹¹, Hans F Merk¹², Norbert Mülleneisen¹³, Stefani Roeseler¹⁴, Heinrich Dickel¹⁵, Ulrike Raap¹⁶, Jörg Kleine-Tebbe¹⁷

Affiliations

¹ Allergology and Immunology, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Campus Charité Mitte, University Medicine Berlin.
² Clinic and Polyclinic for Dermatology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus at the Technical University Dresden.
³ Department of Dermatology, Allergology and Venereology Comprehensive Allergy Center (CAC) Treatment Center for Hereditary Angioedema in the ZSE, Hannover Medical School.
⁴ Clinic of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Leipzig University Medical Center.
⁵ Hesse Allergy Center, Clinic for Dermatology and Allergology, Marburg University Hospital.
⁶ Dermatology Clinic Campus Biederstein, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich.
⁷ Dermatology Venereology and Allergology Clinic, University Medical Center Göttingen Georg-August-University.
⁸ Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Comprehensive Allergy Center Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health.
⁹ Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University Hospital Aachen.
¹⁰ Center for Rhinology and Allergology of the ENT University Clinic Mannheim, Wiesbaden.
¹¹ Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology, University Hospital Giessen.
¹² Dermatology Clinic, RWTH Aachen University.
¹³ Asthma and Allergy Center, Leverkusen.
¹⁴ Allergy, Asthma and Anaphylaxis Center, Clinic of Pneumology, Allergology, Sleep and Respiratory Medicine, Augustinians Hospital, Cologne.
¹⁵ Department of Allergology, Occupational and Environmental Dermatology, Clinic for Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, St. Josef Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum.
¹⁶ Department of Experimental Allergology and Immunodermatology, Department of Human Medicine, University of Oldenburg, and.
¹⁷ Allergy and Asthma Center Westend, Berlin, Germany.

Abstract

Severe allergic reactions to vaccines are very rare. Single severe reactions have occurred worldwide after vaccination with the new mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines. PEG2000 is discussed as a possible trigger. We provide guidance on risk assessment regarding COVID-19 vaccination in patients with allergic diseases and suggest a standardized, resource-oriented diagnostic and therapeutic procedure. Reports of severe allergic reactions in the context of COVID-19 vaccination can be made via www.anaphylaxie.net using an online questionnaire.

Keywords: COVID-19 vaccination; allergy; anaphylaxis; polyethylene glycol; polysorbate 80; skin test.