Risk of Adverse Events of Live-Attenuated COVID-19 Vaccination Among Atopic Patients

PURPOSE: Atopic patients have more risk of adverse drug reactions. COVID-19 vaccination is very important in the current situation. We still do not have data about risks of adverse effects from vaccine in atopic patients. The goal of our study was to evaluate atopic risks and adverse effects of live-attenuated Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccination. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data was collected using a prospective descriptive cohort study from participants 18 years old and above who came to the Outpatient Department, Panyananthaphikkhu Chonprathan Medical Center for live-attenuated COVID-19 vaccination between March and December 2021. The sample size was 3016 individuals. The information about adverse reactions at 6, 2, 72 hours and 7.30 and 60 days after each live-attenuated Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccination was collected by telephone. Participants with history of severe allergic reaction to vaccine components were excluded. RESULTS: There were 732 atopic patients and 2284 non-atopic patients. Atopic patients included 556 with allergic rhinitis, 83 with asthma, 23 with urticaria and 73 with food allergies. The underlying diseases of hypertension, hyperlipidemia and hyperthyroidism were more common in non-allergic patients, with p-value <0.001, <0.001 and 0.042, respectively. Atopic patients developed significantly more fever, nausea and vomiting, skin rash (urticaria), and local reaction than non-atopic patients, with p-values of <0.001, 0.018, <0.001 and <0.001, respectively. CONCLUSION: Atopic patients had more risk of adverse reactions to live-attenuated Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccination. No life-threatening adverse reaction was seen. Physicians should screen atopic risks in people who are getting vaccinated. Atopic patients should be knowledgeable about their risk and how to monitor clinical reactions by themselves.