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Should someone with food allergies get the COVID-19 vaccine?

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Question
I would like information about the COVID-19 vaccines. My 21-year-old daughter is allergic to sesame, mustard, tree nuts, peanuts, and fish. She always carries injectable epinephrine with her for emergencies (which has happened half a dozen times since she was 3 years old). What are the recommendations for getting a vaccine?
Answer

The COVID-19 vaccines are recommended for people with food allergies. The vaccines (shots) do not contain any food proteins, allergens, or derivatives. People with allergies to pets, insects, venom, pollen, dust, latex, and oral medicines can also get the shot. Here is a link to learn more about the vaccines.

Some people have a history of allergic reactions to a vaccine or biologic medicine. If this is the case, the CDC recommends talking to your doctor before getting the shot. You can find more information here.

Categories
COVID-19, Food Allergy
Answered by

Douglas T. Johnston, DO, FAAAAI, FACAAI, is an allergist/clinical immunologist at Carolina Asthma & Allergy Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Assistant Professor at Edward Via School of Osteopathic Medicine in Spartanburg, South Carolina. He is a fellow of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI) and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI). He has lectured at national and international medical conferences and has publications in several medical journals, including “Clinical Immunology,” “World Allergy Organization Journal,” “Journal of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology,” “The Journal of the American Medical Association,” and the “New England Journal of Medicine.”

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