Immunisation stress-related responses and anaphylaxis: What’s the difference?

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Immunisation stress-related responses and anaphylaxis: What’s the difference?

By Marleen Hart, Aimee Brass and Shelley Kininmonth
old man vaccination
Anxiety and stress during immunisation can be reduced by offering privacy and with calm, friendly and confident communication [Image by Mat Napo on Unsplash]

The incidence of anaphylaxis following vaccination with Pfizer–BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine is slightly higher than that of schedule vaccines, so health professionals must be able to recognise this potentially fatal condition and differentiate it from immunisation stress-related responses, explain Marleen Hart, Aimee Brass and Shelley Kininmonth

KEY POINTS, The only true contraindication to the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is a proven history of anaphylaxis to the vaccine or its components. Health p, Education Blue W/ Grey Background W/ Padding
References

1. WHO. Immunization stress-related responses: A manual for program managers and health professionals to prevent, identify and respond to stress-related responses following immunization. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2019.

2. Loharikar A, Suragh TA, MacDonald NE, et al. Anxiety-related adverse events following immunization (AEFI): a systematic review of published clusters of illness. Vaccine 2018;36(2):299–305.

3. Pfizer New Zealand. DBL adrenaline injection. New Zealand Data Sheet. 15 July 2021. https://bit.ly/3xKISTA

4. Immunisation Advisory Centre. Oxygen no longer a requirement for vaccination services. April 2020. https://tinyurl.com/5cc56nps