Have multiple allergies so can't get vaccine

[HilaryWB]

Really worried, I am 71, have RA and Intersitial lung disease so at very high risk for covid. however I have been told that since i once had an anaphylactic reacion to Diamorphine ( administered in a hospital setting 45 years ago), and have since shown milder allergies to antibiotics, (Penicillin , Amoxicillin , Docycline,(in fact all the antibiotics available that GP can prescibe) and cannot take any opiates for pain control I have been told I wont get the Astro Zenica vaccine.. So will I get one of the other Covid vaccines? I really need to know this especially since I I have severe lung issues and so I need this vaccine more than most people.Anyone got any ideas? Many thanks.

[Lolabridge]

Hello Hilary. I’m sorry I can’t answer your question and I doubt whether any of us can as we are not medics. I suggest you discuss this with your doctor in due course. There are other vaccines coming down the track so I feel sure there will one that you will be able to have. You don’t say why you don’t think you will be able to have the AstraZeneca vaccine; be reassured it is not a live vaccine as was confirmed by Dr James Galloway on the NRAS Facebook live session earlier this week. In fact you may like to watch a video of it if you’ve not seen it already. It’s on the NRAS website.Try not to fret now as much can happen in the weeks to come. I’m sure you don’t want to bring on a nasty RA flare over the Christmas period.

[helixhelix]

The oxford vaccine and the sanofi vaccine are both using traditional vaccine methods, like flu vaccines. So it’s likely there will be one for you. There are also another 10 in the pipeline, so just hang on i there!

[Hidden]

I've read that they have started trials of a vaccine specifically for people who can't have the usual ones. It won't be ready for a while and will only be for a small number of people as it's much more expensive than the others. Sorry I can't remember the details. It's watch and wait. I hope you can get some reassurance from your rheumatologist. x

[Bojedo]

I’m not sure if my response is applicable to your allergy reactions. I have allergies also and currently take immunotherapy allergy injections to assist with living with some of these allergies. After about 4 months of increased concentrations of allergens in each injection, I had an anaphylactic reaction soon following an injection. Treating the response was immediate, since the immunotherapy department is completely prepared to treat this.

I now have the injections monthly with the full amount/concentration given. Since my anaphylactic episode, I’m required to take 3 different meds one hour prior to my injection. The meds I take are montelukast sodium, famotidine, and cetrizine. The last two are OTC.

I am not saying this will solve your possible response to the vaccine, since I imagine that the pathway of your anaphylactic reaction and mine could be completely different.

Maybe it would be helpful for you to bring up the possibility of medications that will block the allergy response to the vaccine?