Can a Person with Allergies Be Vaccinated?

Contraindications to vaccination are approved by the World Health Organization:

• Allergic diseases are not a contraindication to vaccination;
• Atopic dermatitis is not a contraindication to vaccination.

A quote from the guidelines of the World Health Organization: “The use of listed false contraindications by a pediatrician should be considered as evidence of his incompetence in matters of immunoprophylaxis”.

Why is that?

Vaccination does not increase the risk of developing or exacerbating atopic dermatitis and bronchial asthma.

Bronchial asthma is an additional indication for vaccination against pneumococcal infection and annual vaccination against influenza to protect the vulnerable lower respiratory tract.

How to vaccinate a child with allergies?

Vaccination is carried out without exacerbation since an acute allergic disease (attacks of bronchial asthma, exacerbation of allergic rhinitis, acute urticaria) is a temporary contraindication.

Do I need antihistamines before vaccination?

Prophylactic administration of antihistamines is not needed either before or after vaccination, including patients with allergies.

Vaccination to all children, in any case, is carried out in places where there is an anti-shock medicine kit + all patients after vaccination should be under medical supervision 30-60 minutes after vaccination.

Is it possible to vaccinate a person suffering from pollen allergy during the flowering period?

Previously, pollinosis was a contraindication to vaccination during the flowering season, but it was not scientifically substantiated. Vaccination with pollinosis does not aggravate the course of the disease.

What if there is an allergy to the components of the vaccine (gelatin, egg, yeast, neomycin)?

Vaccines are safe and well tolerated in all forms of allergy other than anaphylactic reaction.

Anaphylaxis (generalized allergic reaction) to the vaccine component is a contraindication for subsequent vaccination with the exception of anaphylaxis on the egg: world experience has shown that the vaccines are well tolerated (except for the yellow fever vaccine).

1. US CDC Vaccination Guideline CDC: “Pinkbook of vaccination: General Recommendations on Immunization”;
2. A position paper of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology on Practical Aspects of Vaccination and Allergy Vaccination and allergy: “EAACI position paper”;
3. The article of experts of the World Allergological Organization on vaccination and risk of atopy and asthma. “WAO: Vaccination and the Risk of Atopy and Asthma”.