Is Covid Vaccine safe for allergy sufferers?
Posted , 2 users are following.
I have lots of allergies to various things like foods, chemicals, latex, penicillin, etc which have resulted in itchy skin or mouth, swelling of lips and face and breathlessness. I also have ME/Chronic fatigue syndrome which means if I caught Covid it is likely I could be severely affected by it so would prefer to have to vaccine if possible but am very unsure how safe it would be to get the vaccine given my allergies. My doctor said I might or might not be able to have it which is not helpful. Has anyone else with allergies had the vaccine and felt OK with it? I would also urge anyone on here who has long Covid to look up ME/CFS as the symptoms are very similar and you might find things such as pacing, setting very small goals, diet, supplements, etc to be helpful in seeing an improvement in your symptoms.
1 like, 4 replies
catsalbot elaine62759
Edited
Hello Elaine! I am exactly the same as you as regards allergies and chronic fatigue. I have daily issues with food and all meds it's a daily struggle with hives, lips swelling, tight throat and I have to take prednisolone steroids every few months to keep it in check and now carry an epipen it all went alot worse after menopause and I've been told to shield. I've always had vaccines esp the flu jab every year as I'm asthmatic. But for some reason in 2015 I had a really violent reaction to the flu jab which resulted in me being in a wheelchair for two years and increased allergies to food and meds. I'm back walking now but now have more extreme food and med issues and was told not to have any vaccine again. It's quite upsetting to see everyone getting their jabs and a chance of getting some normality back in their lives, I feel I will be shielding forever if I cant have the jab! I'd say if you've been OK with vaccines in the recent past or recently had the flu jab and were OK then you'd probably be OK but nobody can guarantee that. It is a dilemma unless they test us for every ingredient in the jab which I can't see happening!! I would very much like to have the jab but have chosen not to. Its a shame your doctor wasn't more helpful really. Perhaps ask for refer to an allergy consultant we could do with a covid vaccine challenge where they try you with a very small amount before you have the whole two doses!! I can understand your worries tho. Kind regards, Sally
elaine62759 catsalbot
Edited
Thanks for the reply. Sorry to hear about your adverse reaction to the flu jab and I can understand why you don't fancy get another vaccine. I haven't had any vaccines at all since I was young so am really vary about getting one but would like to have the Covid vaccine if possible. It's really difficult to know what to do as if I don't take the risk and get the vaccine then I risk getting Covid. I've hardly been anywhere for a year and can't really live like this forever! Like you I feel my allergies have definitely got worse since the menopause for some reason. I was told I now have burning mouth syndrome and now even have problems with the SLS in toothpaste! Thanks for your thoughts and I'm glad to hear you're managing to walk again. Try and pace your activities and hopefully you'll continue to see and improvement. Think I'll just need to keep trying to get more information before I decide what to do!
catsalbot elaine62759
Posted
Hi Elaine,
Yes I think that's wise. My daughter is a hospital pharmacist she thinks the Astrazeneca vaccine is the better option for patients with allergy problems. I have burning mouth too and my tongue is always raw I don't use toothpaste anymore and yesterday I had a bad reaction to a Liquorice Allsort it's all just so random! Like you it's now nearly a year since I went in a shop and we rely on Tesco food deliveries. My daughter is getting married in August but I know now that we won't be able to go it's all so upsetting. The menopause and covid have alot to answer for wish we could turn the clock back! Take care and I hope you can have the vaccine and get your life back on track but yes get more info first. Best wishes, Sally
catsalbot
Posted
Btw. There's more info compiled by the Anaphylaxis org on their website from Allergy UK and UK immunologists. Hope that's of some help. 😊