Have you had the vaccine having previously had an anaphylactic episode?

[Summer15coming]

I was so excited that my daughter was invited to register for a vaccination. Since she had anaphylaxis following two of her DTP jabs as a baby we mentioned this to the GP surgery, expecting them to say that she will have to have the Oxford AZ. When the cases of anaphylaxis were reported right at the beginning of the Pfizer rollout, it was said that people who have had previous problems would have the AZ, I think?

Anyway, the GP surgery has said that she won't be able to have a vaccine at all. We're really disappointed, obviously. It would definitely have made me feel more confident at the thought of her going back to school when they (hopefully) open up soon.

There are some medical papers that I've found through google that suggest that the GP's position may not be right (like this BMJ article www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n120). Any insight, whether from medical professionals or from those who are in a similar position, would be so helpful as I'd really like to discuss this with her GP (with my daughter's participation - she's 18!) to find the best/safest position for her.

I have a vague recollection that it depends if the previous anaphylaxis was to a common ingredient. So if previous anaphylaxis reaction to nuts (which is not in the jab) they will be cautious but go ahead. If the thing you reacted to has a common ingredient they will balance up the risk. A otherwise healthy (?) 18 year old, and they checked and there is common ingredient between the jabs that were reacted to and the current jabs they will say no.

Why has she been invited? If healthy but frontline or medical condition the risk might tip it the other way.

If she is eligible due to vulnerability does she have a hospital consultant you can speak to?

I’m currently multitasking so this may not be very coherent!

Can’t see why they can’t give her the AZ one.

DD went for her vaccine last Friday. She is anaphylactic to peanuts and has had four episodes of anaphylaxis in her lifetime. She’s also had close calls with bananas, chestnuts, penicillin and was hospitalised as a baby after a reaction to the second DTP vaccine. She has severe asthma and a heart condition, so hasn’t got the best medical history.

My sister works at the vaccination hub at the hospital and said they are giving Pfizer to those with anaphylaxis at the hub but saying take epipens with you. DD’s was at GP centre, not hospital hub, so she of course took her epipens. They said they would not give her Pfizer with her history and had spare Oxford AZ there for people with anaphylaxis, which they gave her. Once done they made her wait 30 mins instead of 15.

So I have it from two separate people that it can definitely be done.

Dd (22) is anaphylactic and she was invited to have a jab on account of the volunteering she does with the elderly.
They wouldn't give it to her when she arrived at the centre as there were no doctors there at the time, but they asked her tor return the following week when there would be one on duty. She was quizzed quite extensively, but then told she would be fine and they gave her the Pfizer one. This was a week ago and she's been absolutely fine so far. No reaction at all beyond a slightly sore arm.

And yes, she too was told to ensure she had her epipen with her.

My grandma (mid 80s) has had two anaphylactic shocks (1 due to sun and one due to taking Voltarol). She went for her vaccination and when this was disclosed she was told it couldn’t be administered in the surgery because of her previous shocks
BUT the Oxford vaccine could at home. It was done at home a few days later, all was fine.

Thank you for replying @WhitechapelLass

She's invited due to vulnerability (complex cardiac problem and prior strokes). Her cardiac consultant told us that he doesn't believe that she's more vulnerable to Covid than any other teenager. I believe him in terms of how much danger she's in, but at the same time I do think back to the many times that she has been badly affected by seemingly minor viruses (including being airlifted to hospital with tonsillitis on one occasion).

Thanks, everyone - that's all so helpful and hopeful!

My DM has. She has anaphylaxis to penicillin and bee stings and had Oxford/AZ.

They are now allowing those with anaphylaxis to have Pfizer unless you have anaphylaxis to specific ingredients in the vaccine - I am presuming this is your GP's issue as your DD had her anaphylaxis after her DTP.

However GP would need to know ingredients in DTP were the same as in the new jabs - it sounds like it is worth delving a bit deeper.

My colleague has - was just kept for observation longer.

For the Oxford Astrazenica one, they ask you if you've had anaphylaxic reaction to a previous vaccine. They aren't asking about reactions to e.g. food. If you say yes, I'm not sure if that means you can't have it at all or they investigate further.

My mother is also been refused due to previous anaphylaxis. Some hospitals are offering a clinic where they monitor you for 6 hours post, however the details of how to get into the clinic are damn near impossible to find. GP won't help, the clinic that refused her won't help, and the number she was given won't connect to anyone

My dd's anaphylsaxis is idiopathic, so we've no idea. I think it's more likely to be food-triggered, but she thinks not. She's had every test under the sun but in the end the consultant said we may never discover what it is. It's a bit like Russian roulette.
She developed an auto-immune condition a few days after her MMR booster as a child, and has been in and out of GOSH ever since. But they still didn't seem worried, and no medic has ever been willing to discuss the proximity between it all kicking off and the MMR jab so who knows? Anyway, it all seems to be OK at the moment.

It is all getting rather complicated.
I have literally just come from a thread about asthma, where deciding my relative still qualifies for the vaccination, to this one, where I need to read this entire thread, just about word for word, to work out whether he now still qualifies on this thread!

@CallmeAngelina my daughter developed an autoimmune condition within weeks of a vaccine. GOSH refused to even take a history with vaccine timing - wanted to know every detail of coughs, cold etc, changed subject quickly when vaccine discussed. Anyway local paediatrician said it was vaccine induced.

That's all by the by and a total derail, but wanted you to know I had a similar experience with GOSH

A man I know aged 90 with COPD was called for the Pfizer vaccine. The family asked and checked and were reassured his previous anaphylactic episode (20 years previously) and allergies would not affect it.

He had his sleeve rolled up but the GP on duty refused him the vaccine.

It took a month of the family fighting on his behalf (with the CCG I think?) for him to be allowed a vaccine. He had the AZ with no ill effects.

Loads of examples of vaccines going ahead then. The receptionist at the GP gave the 'we won't vaccinate after a previous reaction' response without referring to a GP, so it seemed as if she had been primed as to the surgery's stance. I will definitely ask to speak to her GP directly.

@CallmeAngelina @PinkFondantFancy even though it was only the DTP and not the more contentious MMR, her paediatric consultant still waved off the two immediate anaphylaxes she had as a 'coincidence' and 'she just happened to have a virus'. Her cardiac consultant had to wade in to insist that she didn't have the pre-school booster.

She doesn’t have histamine intolerance syndrome does she? I was tested for everything under the sun food etc wise too

My daughter and I spoke with her GP today and he has agreed that she can have the vaccine (probably AZ Oxford, but he is going to look into whether it could be either). Hooray!

@PammieDooveOrangeJoof where you asking that question to @CallmeAngelina?

Oh yes, sorry @Summer15coming