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Suitability for COVID-19 vaccination based on prior allergy or current dietary practices

Eimear Maguire, Senior Medicines Information Pharmacist, North West Medicines Information CentrePublished Last updated See all updates
Topics: All vaccines: Answers to QuestionsAllergy and immunologyExcipients

Prior allergy and religious or other dietary requirements could occasionally affect suitability for vaccination, and patients will often have questions.

This article forms part of a series
  1. Suitability for COVID-19 vaccination based on prior allergy or current dietary practices
    1. Advising individuals with allergies on their suitability for Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
    2. Advising individuals with religious or other dietary practices and beliefs on their suitability for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
    3. Advising individuals with allergies on their suitability for AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine
    4. Advising individuals with religious or other dietary practices and beliefs on their suitability for the AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine

Key points

Allergic reactions to vaccines are possible based on previous allergy.

In addition, patients may ask about their suitability for vaccination based on religious or other dietary requirements or beliefs.

We’ve created a series of articles to help you advise patients when they need advice on individual vaccine suitability.

Prior allergy to COVID-19 Vaccine

Where patients have had an allergic reaction to the first dose of any COVID-19 vaccine, options for the second dose will vary dependent on the nature of the initial reaction.

Our decision tool below guides you through these options. It is derived from Public Health England’s Immunisation Against Infectious Disease (The Green Book): Flowchart for managing patients who have allergic reactions to the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

COVID-19 Vaccine Prior Allergy Decision Tool

2 hour timing - yes or no
Allergy reaction type
Advice end-points

Given the nature of the previous reaction, you should seek advice from a specialist before proceeding.

The patient can have the second dose using the same vaccination in any vaccination setting.

Observe the patient for 30 minutes after they’ve received the vaccine.

The patient can have the second dose using the same vaccination in any vaccination setting.

Consider pre-treatment with a non-sedating oral antihistamine 30 minutes beforehand.

Change history

  1. COVID-19 Vaccine Prior Allergy Decision Tool added.

  2. Published