Self-reported history of high-risk allergy is associated with a greater risk for self-reported allergic reactions within 3 days of mRNA COVID-19 vaccination among healthcare workers, according to a study published in JAMA Network Open. Lily Li, MD, and colleagues examined the association between history of high-risk allergy and allergic reactions after mRNA COVID-19 vaccination among 52,998 healthcare workers (72% women) vaccinated from December 14, 2020 to February 1, 2021. Almost all healthcare workers (97.6%) received two doses of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine; less than 1% (0.9%) reported a history of high-risk allergy. Individuals with a high-risk allergy history reported more allergic reactions after receiving both doses one and two (11.6% & 4.7%, respectively). History of high-risk allergy was associated with a greater risk for allergic reactions (adjusted relative risk [RR], 2.46), with the highest risk seen for hives (adjusted RR, 3.81) and angioedema (adjusted RR, 4.36). “Reported allergy symptoms did not impede the completion of the two-dose vaccine protocol,” the authors wrote.
