Skip to main content

Advertising Disclaimer »

Main menu

  • Journals
    • Pediatrics
    • Hospital Pediatrics
    • Pediatrics in Review
    • NeoReviews
    • AAP Grand Rounds
    • AAP News
  • AAP Policy
    • Topic/Program Collections
    • Policy
  • Pediatric Collections
    • COVID-19
    • Racism and Its Effect on Pediatric Health
    • More Collections...
  • Multimedia
    • Video Abstracts
    • Pediatrics On Call Podcast
  • Alerts
    • Table of Contents
    • Insights
  • AAP Career Center
  • Subscribe
  • Other Publications
    • American Academy of Pediatrics

User menu

  • Log in

Search

  • Advanced search
American Academy of Pediatrics

AAP Gateway

Advanced Search

AAP Logo

  • Log in
  • Journals
    • Pediatrics
    • Hospital Pediatrics
    • Pediatrics in Review
    • NeoReviews
    • AAP Grand Rounds
    • AAP News
  • AAP Policy
    • Topic/Program Collections
    • Policy
  • Pediatric Collections
    • COVID-19
    • Racism and Its Effect on Pediatric Health
    • More Collections...
  • Multimedia
    • Video Abstracts
    • Pediatrics On Call Podcast
  • Alerts
    • Table of Contents
    • Insights
  • AAP Career Center
  • Subscribe

Risk of anaphylaxis after vaccination low

Carla Kemp , Senior Editor
December 08, 2015
  • McNeil MM, et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol. Oct. 6, 2015, www.jacionline.org/article/S0091-6749%2815%2901160-4/abstract.

Anaphylaxis after vaccination was rare in all age groups, and no cases were identified in children younger than 4 years old, according to an analysis of Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD) data from 2009-’11 and a review of medical records.

An Institute of Medicine committee recently concluded that evidence supports a causal relationship between anaphylaxis and several vaccines, including measles-mumps-rubella, varicella and influenza. The only population-based study on the risk of life-threatening allergic reactions from vaccines used VSD data from 1991-’97. Since then, the recommended immunization schedules have changed.

The authors of this study analyzed VSD data from Jan. 1, 2009, through Dec. 31, 2011, to estimate the incidence of anaphylaxis after vaccination in children and adults, and to describe demographic and clinical characteristics of confirmed cases. They identified potential cases of anaphylaxis using diagnosis and procedure codes. Then, they reviewed charts of potential cases to determine if they met the Brighton Collaboration criteria for anaphylaxis as well as if they had a history of or were treated for atopic conditions.

A total of 25,173,965 vaccine doses were administered at 17,606,500 visits. Researchers identified 33 confirmed vaccine-triggered anaphylaxis cases for a rate of 1.31 per million vaccine doses. No deaths were reported.

It was difficult to determine rates for individual vaccines because most were given with other vaccines. Among vaccines given alone, those that most frequently caused anaphylaxis were inactivated trivalent influenza vaccine (1.35 cases per million doses) and inactivated monovalent influenza vaccine (1.83 cases per million doses).

In addition, 28 (85%) of the cases had a history of atopic disease. Symptoms occurred within 30 minutes for eight cases, 30-120 minutes for eight cases and two to four hours for 10 cases.

The authors noted that although epinephrine is the recommended treatment for anaphylaxis, it was given to only 15 (45%) cases, while 28 (85%) cases were treated with antihistamines and 17 (52%) with corticosteroids.

They concluded that although anaphylaxis after vaccination is rare, vaccine providers should be prepared to treat the potentially life-threatening allergic reaction.

Resources
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention immunization schedules
  • AAP policy, "Recommendations for Prevention and Control of Influenza in Children, 2015–2016"
  • Immunization information for parents
  • AAP immunization website
  • Follow AAP News on Facebook.
  • Follow AAP News on Twitter.
Copyright © 2015, The American Academy of Pediatrics

Advertising Disclaimer »

Download PDF
Email News Article

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word on American Academy of Pediatrics.

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
Risk of anaphylaxis after vaccination low
(Your Name) has sent you a message from American Academy of Pediatrics
(Your Name) thought you would like to see the American Academy of Pediatrics web site.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Share
Risk of anaphylaxis after vaccination low
Carla Kemp
December 08, 2015
del.icio.us logo Digg logo Reddit logo Twitter logo CiteULike logo Facebook logo Google logo Mendeley logo
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One
  • Digital Edition Current Issue
  • Latest Daily News
  • Archives
  • Collections
  • Columns
  • Advertising
  • Subscribe to AAP News Magazine
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement
  • FAQ
  • Contact Us
  • 2021 AAP Journals Catalog
  • Pediatrics
  • Pediatrics in Review
  • Hospital Pediatrics
  • NeoReviews
  • AAP Grand Rounds
  • AAP Career Center
  • shopAAP
  • AAP.org
  • AAP News
  • Visit AAP News on Facebook
  • Follow AAP News on Twitter
American Academy of Pediatrics

© 2021 American Academy of Pediatrics