Allergenic components of vaccines
and avoidance of vaccination-related adverse
events.
Georgitis JW, Fasano MB.
Wake
Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard,
Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA. jgeorgit@wfubmc.edu
Vaccines have
had a dramatic effect on the prevalence of communicable diseases, but,
in selected individuals, the injection presents a risk of anaphylaxis.
Fortunately, most people have no allergic reactions to vaccines. In
egg-allergic individuals, care must be taken before administering
specific vaccines; the algorithm provided in this article gives specific
recommendations for skin testing and desensitization. This algorithm is
not needed for individuals receiving the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine
because the risk of anaphylaxis is extremely low, even in those with
known egg-protein sensitivity. Some individuals have gelatin
sensitivity, which may cause anaphylaxis. Selected vaccines contain
antibiotic drugs, so it is important to note if an individual has any
known drug sensitivity, especially to neomycin, polymyxin B, or
amphotericin B. Lastly, vaccine preservatives may cause reactions, but
this occurs very infrequently.