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- Title:
Increasing the COVID-19 immunization rate through allergy testing.
- Document type:
- Journal Article
- Author(s):
- Bent, R K; Weinbrenner, J; Faihs, V; Steffens, S; Nau, T; Vitus, M; Mathes, S; Darsow, U; Biedermann, T; Brockow, K
- Abstract:
- BACKGROUND: Vaccination of the population is required to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Allergy testing could reduce anxiety towards COVID-19 vaccination and thereby may increase vaccination rate, however, its effectiveness remains unclear. METHODS: One hundred and thirty prospective real-life patients in need of but not daring to get vaccinated asked for allergy workup for COVID-19 vaccine hypersensitivity in 2021/2022. Characterization of patients, identification of anxieties, decrease of patient's anxiety levels, overall vaccination rate and adverse reactions after vaccination were assessed. RESULTS: Tested patients were characterized by being female (91.5%) and having a high rate of previous allergies (e.g. to food 55.4%, drugs 54.6%, or previous vaccinations 50%) and dermatological disease (29.2%) but not always had medical contraindications for COVID-19 vaccination. Sixty one patients (49.6%) were highly concerned (4-6, Likert scale 0-6) about vaccination and 47 (37.6%) expressed resolving thoughts about vaccinaion anaphylaxis (3-6, Likert scale 0-6). However only 35 patients (28.5%) were scared of getting COVID-19 within 2 months (4-6, Likert scale 0-6) and only 11 (9%) patients had high expectations of getting COVID-19 (4-6, Likert scale 0-6). Allergy testing significantly (p < 0.01 to p < 0.05 respectively) reduced the median anxiety of allergic symptoms following vaccination: dyspnoea (4.2-3.1), to faint (3.7-2.7), long-term consequences (3.6-2.2), pruritus (3.4-2.6), skin rash (3.3-2.6) and death (3.2-2.6). After allergy testing, most patients (108/122, 88.5%) let themselves be vaccinated within 60 days. Revaccinated patients with previous symptoms experienced a reduction of symptoms (p < 0.05) upon revaccination. CONCLUSIONS: Patients not daring to get vaccinated have more anxiety towards vaccination than to acquire COVID-19. For those, allergy testing excludes vaccine allergy, and is a tool to increase vaccination willingness and thereby helps to combat vaccination hesitancy.
- Journal title abbreviation:
- J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol
- Year:
- 2023
- Journal volume:
- 37
- Journal issue:
- 6
- Pages contribution:
- 1228-1235
- Fulltext / DOI:
- doi:10.1111/jdv.18979
- Pubmed ID:
- http://view.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/36808753
- Print-ISSN:
- 0926-9959
- TUM Institution:
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Dermatologie und Allergologie
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