A quick reminder: Most people can safely get the COVID-19 vaccine.
🙋 So who qualifies for a medical exemption from the vaccine?
✔️ Many people have received the COVID-19 vaccine at the time of this writing (200 million with at least one dose in the U.S.). There are no medical conditions that prevent people from getting the vaccine.
ALLERGIES:
When the mRNA vaccines (Pfizer/Moderna) first came out, it was thought that some people may have an allergy to polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polyethylene sorbate. PEG is in things like laxatives and polyethylene sorbate is in some foods like puddings, making them extra creamy (YUM?!).
But after studying people who have had a reaction after the vaccine, it is not clear that PEG or polyethylene sorbate are the cause of the allergic reaction. To make things more confusing, some people who had a reaction to the first dose of the vaccine, were still able to successfully receive a second dose of the vaccine without a reaction. For people with other allergies, even if severe, the vaccine is still recommended. The CDC offers some basic guidance around this here, but if someone has had any severe allergic reactions and/or vaccine related allergic reactions, it is important to have a conversation with a primary care clinician prior to vaccination.
⏯️ The one reason for hitting the pause button is if someone has had a 🛑 severe (anaphylactic) reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine ONLY 🛑. Even then, it is important to have a conversation with a primary care clinician-it is possible to still receive the vaccine.
CANCER:
There is no specific reason that people with cancer cannot receive the vaccine. There is no live virus in the available vaccines against COVID-19, which is a contraindication for some cancer patients to other vaccines. There has been concern that some people will not mount a full response to the vaccine (which makes it work). But, most people with cancer will mount a response to the vaccine. For some particular treatments, this may vary (particularly for people with blood cancers), so it is important to have an individual discussion with the person’s clinician (oncologist) prior to vaccination.
OTHER:
For people who have had myocarditis (inflammation of the heart) after vaccination, they should consult with their clinician and wait for symptoms to resolve before getting a second dose. For people who have had Guillain Barré Syndrome (GBS) with any vaccination, there is not a contraindication to vaccination; however, people should consult with their primary care clinician and likely opt for the mRNA vaccine (Pfizer/Moderna), as most cases of GBS have been linked to the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. Pregnant people can and should receive the vaccine.
A few other considerations. If someone has had COVID-19, they should wait to get vaccinated until they are out of the isolation/quarantine guidelines. If someone has received convalescent plasma or monoclonal antibodies, they should wait 90 days to get vaccinated. There may be specific considerations for individuals who have had medical illness (like heparin induced thrombocytopenia) and/or other specific risk factors and these should be discussed specifically with the person’s primary care clinician.
Key points:
➡️ There are no known medical conditions that prevent people from getting the COVID-19 vaccine.
➡️ People who have had a severe allergic reaction to any vaccine or the COVID-19 vaccine should talk to their primary care clinician about planning for the first or second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. They may still be able to get the vaccine.
➡️ People with cancer can receive the vaccine but should talk to their clinician first.
➡️ Pregnant and breastfeeding people can get the vaccine.
➡️ People with specific concerns, medical conditions, or risk factors should consult with their primary care clinician to discuss risks/benefits. In most cases, they can still receive the vaccine safely.
âś‹ And remember, after vaccination, people are monitored for 15-30 minutes to monitor for allergic reactions and to ensure safety. Medications are available onsite to treat allergic reactions. Vaccination sites are staffed with nurses, clinicians, and emergency medical teams to perform emergency care should it become necessary.
⏳ The risk of getting COVID-19 is still very high and the risks of consequences of illness are serious. Getting the vaccine is an option for most people. There are VERY few medical conditions and/or reasons not to get it.
Stay Safe. Stay Sane.
With Love,
Those Nerdy Girls
Previous Posts on Cited Topics:
Vaccine Ingredients:
What exactly is in the vaccine from Johnson & Johnson-Janssen (and, what isn’t)?
What exactly is in the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines? (And, what isn’t?)
What’s in the vaccine from Oxford-AstraZeneca (and, what isn’t)?
Allergic Reactions and the Vaccine
Relevant News Links:
NBC News As mandates roll out, some may ask for medical exemptions. What’s really valid?
Forbes What Are The Medical Exemptions For Not Getting A Covid-19 Vaccine?
ABC News Few people medically exempt from getting COVID-19 vaccine
