Covid-19 Vaccine – Allergy

The Virus

COVID-19 is a respiratory infection caused by a coronavirus, known as SARS-CoV-2. It was first identified in late 2019. It is highly infectious and spreads through the air when people cough or sneeze, or when they touch surfaces where it has landed then touch their eyes, nose or mouth.

Coronavirus can cause serious illness, hospitalisation and even death.

The most common symptoms are:

  • new continuous cough.
  • fever/high temperature (37.8C or greater).
  • loss of, or change in, sense of smell or taste.

Some people will have more serious symptoms, including pneumonia or difficulty breathing, which might require admission to hospital.

It is also possible to have coronavirus without having any symptoms.

The Vaccines

Who can get a COVID-19 vaccine

Additional protection for people with a severely weakened immune system

COVID-19 vaccines are normally given seasonally, but some people with a severely weakened immune system may need additional protection at other times.

Seasonal COVID-19 vaccines

The NHS will contact you if your NHS record suggests you may be eligible for a seasonal spring COVID-19 vaccine.

You may be able to get a spring COVID-19 vaccine this spring if you:

  • are aged 75 years old or over (including those who will be 75 by 30 June 2026)
  • are aged 6 months old or over and have a weakened immune system because of a health condition or treatment
  • live in a care home for older adults

Find out more about getting a COVID-19 vaccine, including if you’re eligible and how to get it.

Which COVID-19 vaccine will I get?

There are several different COVID-19 vaccines in use in the UK. They have all met strict standards of safety, quality and effectiveness.

You cannot choose which COVID-19 vaccine you have. Most people can have any of the COVID-19 vaccines and you will be offered a vaccine that is suitable for you.

Some people are only offered certain vaccines, for example:

  • if you’re under 18 years old
  • in very rare cases if you’ve had a severe allergic reaction to one of the vaccines you may be referred to a specialist clinic for your vaccination

Children under 12 years old will be given smaller doses than older children and adults.

Find out more about the commonly available COVID-19 vaccines approved for use in the UK:

How well do the COVID-19 vaccines work?

If you’re at increased risk of illness from COVID-19, getting a COVID-19 vaccine gives you good protection and helps to:

  • reduce your risk of getting seriously ill or dying from COVID-19
  • reduce your risk of needing to go to hospital if you catch COVID-19
  • reduce your risk of catching and spreading COVID-19
  • protect against different strains (variants) of COVID-19

COVID-19 vaccines are offered because viruses change, and protection fades over time.

Read more about vaccine effectiveness statistics on the Office of National Statistics website

Read the monitoring reports of the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination on GOV.UK

Information:

There is a chance you might still get or spread COVID-19 even if you have a vaccine, so it’s important to follow advice about how to avoid catching and spreading COVID-19.

Do the vaccines cause side effects?

The COVID-19 vaccines can cause some side effects, but not everyone gets them.

Find out more about COVID-19 vaccine side effects and safety.

Vaccination is the single most effective way to reduce deaths and severe illness from COVID-19. A national immunisation campaign has been underway since early December 2020.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines do not cause a coronavirus infection. They help to build up your immunity to the virus, so your body will fight it off more easily if it affects you.

In England, the vaccine is being offered in some hospitals and pharmacies, at local centres run by GPs and at larger vaccination centres. More centres are opening all the time.

For information on who is eligible for the vaccine, click the link below who is eligible to have a COVID-19 vaccine.

Side-Effects

All vaccines and medicines have some side effects. These side effects need to be continuously balanced against the expected benefits in preventing illness.

It’s normal to experience side effects after vaccination. It shows the vaccine is teaching your body’s immune system how to protect itself from the disease, however not everyone gets them.

Most vaccine side-effects are mild and short term. They may include:

  • tenderness, swelling and/or redness at the injection site.
  • headache or muscle ache.
  • joint pain.
  • chills.
  • nausea or vomiting.
  • feeling tired.
  • fever (temperature above 37.8°C).

These common side effects are much less serious than developing coronavirus or complications associated with coronavirus and they usually go away within a few days.

If you feel uncomfortable, take paracetamol. Make sure you take paracetamol as directed on the label or leaflet.

If you’re worried about your symptoms, phone the NHS 111 service.

Blood Clots

The MHRA is carrying out a detailed review of reports of a very rare blood clotting problem affecting a small number of people who have had the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine. The problem can also happen in people who have not been vaccinated and it’s not yet clear why it affects some people.

Find out more about COVID-19 vaccination and blood clotting on GOV.UK.

 

Allergies

Most vaccine side-effects are adverse reactions rather than true “allergies” and tend to be mild short-term physiological responses.

Even if you have a history of serious allergic reaction to food, an identified drug or vaccine, or an insect sting, you can still get the coronavirus vaccine, as long as you’re not allergic to any ingredient of the vaccine.

It’s important that you tell the person giving you the vaccine if you’ve ever had a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis).

If you do have an allergic reaction to the vaccine, it usually happens in minutes. The people giving the vaccine are trained to deal with allergic reactions and treat them immediately.

The vaccine you receive may contain a small amount of alcohol called ethanol. The amount in the vaccine is less than the amount in a slice of bread.

The vaccines do not contain any animal products or egg. For more information on vaccine ingredients visit the Vaccine Knowledge Project.

So far, millions of people have been given a COVID-19 vaccine and reports of serious side effects, such as allergic reactions or clotting problems, have been very rare.

In Devon, we are very fortunate to have a hospital run COVID Vaccine Allergy service that provides advice and guidance for GPs and Vaccination Hub Services. The Specialists will also give appropriate vaccinations to selected Patients. Your GP or Vaccinator will have access to this service.

Advice if you’re of childbearing age, pregnant or breast-feeding

Currently, there’s no evidence the COVID-19 vaccine is unsafe if you’re pregnant. But more evidence is needed before you can routinely be offered it.

More information