GPs CAN NOW OFFER COVID VACCINES TO PATIENTS WITH HISTORY OF ANAPHYLAXIS, NHS ENGLAND HAS SAID

[Pollynolongerinagony]

ARTICLE BY CONSTANZA PEARCE

05 JANUARY 2021

FOUND ON PULSETODAY.CO.UK

I have included below a part of Constanza's article , which clarifies in which circumstances people who have previously experienced anaphylaxis should :

a) only have the Oxford vaccine, b) who would require 30 minutes observation on the second dose with full resuscitation facilities such as hospital, c) who can have a different second vaccine to the first dose.

I hope this is of help and hope to all of us EpiPen holders, and I for one will be emailing this article to my lovely Doctor. They just don't always have the time to keep abreast of the latest information, so it helps if we do our own research from trusted sources, and help ourselves as much and as safely as possible.

As ever, await guidance from our forum experts , with thanks, Polly.

[SnazzyD]

Do you mean this?

pulsetoday.co.uk/news/clini...

[Pollynolongerinagony in reply to SnazzyD]

yes best wishes Polly

[Pollynolongerinagony]

yes

[maria40 in reply to Pollynolongerinagony]

Thank you so much for that. It may be helpful to me as I was told that as I had had a severe reaction to penicillin in the past the vaccine could only be offered to me in a hospital setting and I should contact my GP about this. I did so, his opinion was that I could be given it (Pfizer) at the vaccination hub but that he couldn't override the decision of the duty doctor there. He was to pass a message to the practice manager but I've heard nothing further. When I rang the surgery 3 days later, I was told the practice manager had not yet seen the message. This article will give me some ammunition I hope.

[Pollynolongerinagony in reply to maria40]

great! the article states Oxford vac, and must have full resuscitation on standby , so looks like hospital setting... ? as ever I await PMRPro and Dorset Lady wise responses... but in the mean time , you could email article to your Dr. so they have latest version of advice. Good luck and thanks for your response, we're all in this together, Polly.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Pollynolongerinagony]

I can't reread it to check - used up my one life for PulseToday - but I was fairly sure it said both vaccines could be offered with provisions which is in line with this:

"Precautions to COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech)

A very small number of individuals have experienced anaphylaxis when vaccinated with the COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine BNT162b2 (Pfizer BioNTech) vaccine

- The MHRA has advised that individuals with a history of anaphylaxis to food, an identified drug or vaccine, or an insect sting can receive any COVID-19 vaccine, as long as they are not known to be allergic to component (excipient) of the vaccine

- All recipients of this vaccine should be kept for observation and monitored for a minimum of 15 minutes. Facilities for management of anaphylaxis should be available at all vaccination sites

- The British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology (BSACI) has advised that:

individuals with a history of immediate onset-anaphylaxis to multiple classes of drugs or an unexplained anaphylaxis should not be vaccinated with the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine. The AstraZeneca vaccine can be used as an alternative (if not otherwise contraindicated)

* individuals with a localised urticarial (itchy) skin reaction (without systemic symptoms) to the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine should receive the second dose of vaccine with prolonged observation (30 minutes) in a setting with full resuscitation facilities (e.g. a hospital)

* individuals with non-allergic reactions (vasovagal (fainting) episodes, non-urticarial skin reaction or non-specific symptoms) can receive the second dose of vaccine in any vaccination setting."

which is taken from this:

guidelines.co.uk/immunisati...

[Janstr in reply to PMRpro]

As someone who had immediate onset anaphylaxis 40 years ago ( blacking out within 5 mins of penicillin shot fortunately at the doctors reception desk), this freaks me out. Do you know if people having a reaction to the vaccine in a setting with resuscitation facilities can always be successfully resuscitated?

[Pollynolongerinagony in reply to Janstr]

Janstr so sorry you're freaking out, I'm sure you will get an answer from the experts, but in the mean time, there are soooo many people who have had the vax and only two reported as having bad reaction, these were nurses with allergies, and actually were EpiPen holders, who later were reported to have made a complete recovery... so that in itself is quite remarkable. Now we have all benefitted from this incident as there's specific advice for people with allergies and EpiPen holders, to make it as safe as possible to have the vax , in a safe setting as possible. maybe you should chat with your dr and make him/her aware of your concerns, then when your cohort is called up, he/ she be best placed to advise you of possible hospital setting, Pfizer or Oxford or wait for more feedback. Anyway try not to be over worried, help will be on its way...

I have included below a part of Constanza's article , in Pulse.com which clarifies in which circumstances people who have previously experienced anaphylaxis should :

a) only have the Oxford vaccine, b) who would require 30 minutes observation on the second dose with full resuscitation facilities such as hospital, c) who can have a different second vaccine to the first dose.

I hope this is of help and hope to all of us EpiPen holders, and I for one will be emailing this article to my lovely Doctor. They just don't always have the time to keep abreast of the latest information, so it helps if we do our own research from trusted sources, and help ourselves as much and as safely as possible.

As ever, await guidance from our forum experts , with thanks,

take care and keep researching and keep safe... Polly

[Janstr in reply to Pollynolongerinagony]

Thanks for your reply & also for your original post. We are in a fortunate position in NZ as there are currently no known cases in the community; the only ones are in some people who have come through the border & are in managed isolation. Our vaccines are as couple of months away. So at least I & others in my position can wait until there is a bit more information. Apparently NZ has purchased Novavax & Janssen vaccines as well as the as Oxford &Pfizer

[Pollynolongerinagony in reply to Janstr]

wow! you are in a fantastic position to bide your time, learn and make the best decision when you cross that bridge... be pleased to read on our forum how you get on... best wishes Polly.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Janstr]

I have no idea at all I'm afraid

[Pollynolongerinagony in reply to PMRpro]

knowledge is power and this forum is my go to place for reliable well researched advice, so when I have no clue, I sit tight till more info comes in and it always does.. I know I'll make the right decision for me based on the best most recent info, when the time comes, and that's all any of us can do, we'd be lost without this advice and guidance, there's so much hope for us all on the horizon now, especially with seasoned troopers on our side, who've fought and survived... .. best wises Polly.

[Smokygirl]

I have many really bad allergies including the sulphites in pickles. I get horrendous diarrhoea and my eye and face swells up at the same time. I also spent a night in hospital after pruning bushes in my garden! Couldn’t breathe and had intra -venous adrenalin. I don’t have an Epipen. I just try to avoid pollen and pickles, which is sometimes difficult at catered functions!

I am also mildly allergic to penicillin ( diarrhoea after a few days)

I have anti histamines with me at all times.

When I told the doctors at the Vaccination hub , they said there were no sulphites in the vaccine but it had to be my own decision and they had the Adrenalin handy. I had the Pfizer vaccination.

I was OK til evening then diarrhoea —- but that was it, and a sore arm the next day.

[Pollynolongerinagony in reply to Smokygirl]

You poor girl! thankyou so much for your reply and for sharing your knowledge and experience. You are incredibly brave , it must have been a life changing decision for you to bare. Having experienced 3 x allergic reactions when breathing is severely compromised, I know how scary the very thought of that is , in possibly inflicting that on oneself to be safe from this virus, I'm so very happy for you that your reaction was bearable and you are protected to a great extent, well done, and thankyou so much for giving us the benefit of your experience. Wishing you well, Polly.

[Smokygirl in reply to Pollynolongerinagony]

Bless you! To be honest I truly believe that the Prednisalone protected me from having a bad reaction. I am on 8 mg at the moment. xxx

[MrsNails]

Thanks for this Polly but l know my son WON’T have the Pfizer One but by the time they get around to him l’m sure there will be a choice, he’s 38years old.

I’ll check on the Anaphylaxis Website for their guidelines.....

His allergies are extremely severe & why take any kind of chance when there are options.

anaphylaxis.org.uk/covid-19...