Should I be vaccinated against Covid-19 despite histamine intolerance? This blog post has put me in the realm of writer’s block for the first time in my career as a journalist. The coronavirus vaccination issue is emotionally charged and is being discussed in the media, especially on social media, in an incredibly undifferentiated way and with frighteningly false arguments. Fears are being played on, false information is being deliberately spread and, worst of all, false information is also being spread unintentionally.
Update 11.1.2021:
nmi-Portal Study on the tolerability of the corona vaccination.
Because let’s be honest: how many of us are virologists or vaccination specialists? Who even knew words like “virologist”, “mRNA” or “rapid antigen test” before the coronavirus pandemic? As a biologist, I have to admit that I knew these terms, but I wasn’t familiar with them. Because there’s a whole world between having heard something at university and knowing your way around.
I don’t want to talk about the pros and cons in this article, explain the vaccinations or explain the mechanism of the mRNA vaccination method. Today I am concerned with something else:
Histamine intolerance and the corona vaccination. Is that safe?
Various social media outlets are currently buzzing with the spectre that patients with histamine intolerance should not be vaccinated against coronavirus, as this could cause serious damage or they would “certainly react to this vaccination with anaphylactic shock”. But is that the case? Or are ignorant, fear-filled people with no medical background once again ranting here?
As I am not an expert in this field myself, I contacted various doctors and biologists who are experts in this field. On the one hand, experts in histamine intolerance, and on the other, experts in vaccinations. I also contacted Biontech, the manufacturer of the currently approved vaccine, and even received a reply. I have summarized these conversations and information for you here.
Summary: Vaccinating against corona despite histamine intolerance
- Do people with histamine intolerance react more frequently and more severely to vaccinations than normal patients?
According to the Paul Ehrlich Institute’s position paper, this is probably not the case. The vaccination should be tolerated equally well. The assessment of the doctors and virologists I contacted also points in this direction. However, there is no explicit data on patients with histamine intolerance. This was not taken into account in the studies. There is also a lack of practical data. - Is there anything to consider with coronavirus vaccines for people with histamine intolerance?
If you have ever suffered an anaphylactic shock – regardless of why this happened – you should refrain from vaccination at this time. It is better to vaccinate later when more data is available. If mine has not experienced anaphylactic shock, the fact of histamine intolerance or autoimmune diseases should be pointed out before the vaccination. So as always: discuss the vaccination and any medication you are taking with your family doctor and the doctor who is vaccinating you. And that’s what I was told again and again: in such a case, only get vaccinated where emergency medical care is available, or if the medical vaccination team is prepared for a shock.
Also important: wait at least 15 minutes after the vaccination and do not go home immediately! - Is there any experience of this, or what do the statistics say?
So far (as of January 4, 2021), almost 13 million coronavirus vaccinations have been carried out worldwide. In purely statistical terms, this means that at least 130,000 people with histamine intolerance were involved. The severe side effects were in the range of less than 0.002% and largely affected people with a history of anaphylaxis. Converted to people with histamine intolerance who have probably been vaccinated so far, that would be 2-3 people out of 130,000 vaccinated. The probability of winning anything in the lottery is around 2%. So you’re more likely to win your stake back in the lottery than have a severe vaccination reaction. So yes, there are empirical values, even if histamine intolerance was not specifically looked at. But you can get a statistical picture. - Could I take an antihistamine before the vaccination as a precaution?
Unfortunately, I did not receive an explicit answer. Make sure you discuss it with the doctor giving the vaccine!
The bottom line on the corona vaccination
The conclusion for people with histamine intolerance is the same as for people without: Vaccinating makes more sense than not vaccinating. The probability of a severe vaccination reaction is minimal. The probability of dying from it is close to zero. The probability of getting Covid-19 and having severe consequences of these diseases (including death) is significantly higher. I am clearly opting for the vaccination option and hope to get my turn as soon as possible.
Summary of the most important points:
- Doctors should take a careful medical history with regard to possible allergies and intolerances
- Food-associated allergies or intolerances are no reason not to be vaccinated
- Anyone who has ever had an anaphylactic shock should speak to the doctor who vaccinated them and their family doctor
- Wait at least 15 minutes after the vaccination, do not go home straight away
- Facilities for the management of anaphylactic reactions should be available at the vaccination site
- The probability of a severe vaccination reaction, even for histamine intolerance patients, is statistically less than 0.0002%. That is practically zero
- Experience according to statistics shows: Histamine intolerance is no reason not to vaccinate
- My personal, non-medical tip: pay attention to the histamine barrel 2 days before the vaccination and make sure that the barrel is empty when you go for the vaccination.
In short: don’t worry, don’t panic. Don’t be unsettled and get vaccinated. This will not only help you, but also protect those who cannot actually be vaccinated. These are, for example, people receiving chemotherapy, newborn babies or infants. In other words, those who already don’t have it easy and are defenceless. Out of respect for these people alone, the weakest members of society, we should get vaccinated.
Position paper of the Paul Ehrlich Institute:
https://www.pei.de/DE/newsroom/positionen/covid-19-impfstoffe/stellungnahme-allergiker.html;jsessionid=0752352955A8247301CB3E2B46F01091.intranet241
Statement of the Allergology Working Group, Austrian Society for Dermatology and Venereology (ÖGDV) https://www.allergologie.at
