Marilijn van Hees-van Bergen was vaccinated with Pfizer on 25 June. “When I walked to the place where I had to wait fifteen minutes, I already felt crazy. I got tingling in my hands and became nauseous. But I thought: it must be part of it. It will probably go away,” she tells EditieNL.
Medicines
When she got into the car fifteen minutes later, she was nauseous and dizzy. “My tongue swelled up and my throat tightened. Then I thought: this is not good. Luckily I got home safely.” She was treated by the doctor for her allergic reaction. “I got meds and it went away.”
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The day after, she called the GGD about the consequences for her second vaccination, which was scheduled for July 30. After hearing about the allergic reaction, the GGD doctor spoke clearly: a second vaccination would be ‘life-threatening’ for Marilijn. “The doctor advised me to keep an eye on the news and contact an allergist. There is no other protocol, so that was it.”
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allergy test
This week Marilijn was able to speak to an allergist. “I can go for an allergy test at the end of August. Before we can decide what the next step is, we need to know what my body has reacted to.”
But the test is not that easy. “RIVM cannot come to the allergist with the vaccines, so I cannot be tested for these substances either. I am falling between two stools. So little is known about this. I may just be vaccinated, but I know that only after a test.”
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Until then, no second vaccination for Marilijn, and therefore no corona passport. “We canceled the holiday to Spain. I don’t want to endanger myself without being vaccinated. With a test, the anticipation is gone for me. A very sad story.”
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Complaints
Lareb has now received 222 reports of people with complaints that are consistent with severe allergic reactions. This happened 136 times after vaccination with Pfizer, 51 times after AstraZeneca, 30 times after Moderna and 5 times after Janssen.
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Cause
The allergic reactions are not easy to explain, says immunologist Ger Rijkers. “It is impossible that you have an allergic reaction to the vaccine itself, because it is the first time that you get that substance in your body,” he tells EditieNL.
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According to him, the most logical explanation is that the body has an allergic reaction to a fatty substance that has been added to the vaccine: polyethylene glycol (PEG). “This is a kind of soap-like molecule that is always in toothpaste and soap. It ensures that the vaccine is absorbed by the body and can therefore not be left out.”
The substance is also used in medicine. “We know that people who receive it a lot have an allergic reaction,” says the immunologist.
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Severe allergic reactions
According to immunologist Ger Rijkers, you should contact your GP if you have the following allergic reactions:
- If you get red skin and your heart rate goes up.
- If your throat, lips or eyes are visibly swollen.
- If you have to cough or get stuffy.
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Modern at Pfizer
PEG is only in Moderna and Pfizer. Not in AstraZeneca and Janssen, although a comparable substance can be found there. “You might consider getting the second shot with one of those vaccines. It’s unlikely you’ll have an allergic reaction to two different components in different vaccines.”
He advises people who often have allergic reactions to contact their doctor. “Then special precautions are taken. For example, you can be vaccinated in the hospital, so that help is close by.”
Epipen
If you suffer from an allergic reaction after the vaccination, it is wise to contact your doctor. “And if you have an epipen, you can use it.”
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Response RIVM
“As long as it is not clear what someone has a serious allergic reaction to, we cannot offer a solution for this in the short term. Even with a first injection, people are already partially protected against serious corona infection,” said a spokesperson for the RIVM.
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