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World Allergy Organ J
. 2021 Mar 15;100532.
doi: 10.1016/j.waojou.2021.100532. Online ahead of print.
May polyethylene glycol be the cause of anaphylaxis to mRNA COVID-19 vaccines?
Pedro Giavina-Bianchi 1 , Jorge Kalil 1
Affiliations
- PMID: 33747340
- PMCID: PMC7959258
- DOI: 10.1016/j.waojou.2021.100532
Abstract
Vaccination against coronavirus is essential to minimize COVID-19 pandemic. Rare cases of anaphylaxis associated with the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are being described, and the mechanisms involved in these reactions are poorly understood. A potential culprit agent of these vaccine-induced anaphylaxis is the polyethylene glycol, which has been reported as a cause of anaphylaxis. However, a cause-effect association has not been demonstrated and the cases of anaphylaxis to mRNA COVID-19 vaccines should be further investigated. In this scenario, the recommendations are inaccurate and can lead to misinterpretation. At the moment, a more accurate recommendation would be the contraindication of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in patients with immediate hypersensitivity reaction to polyethylene glycol or polysorbate. Patients with history of anaphylaxis to other or unknown causes should be referral to an allergist-immunologist to further orientation.
Keywords: BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine; Center for Disease Control, CDC; National Health Service, NHS; Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, VAERS; anaphylaxis; hypersensitivity reaction, HSR; immediate hypersensitivity reaction; immunization; macrogol; polyethylene glycol; polyethylene glycol, PEG; polysorbate.