Are the Allergic Reactions of COVID-19 Vaccines Caused by mRNA Constructs or Nanocarriers? Immunological Insights

Interdiscip Sci. 2021 Jun;13(2):344-347. doi: 10.1007/s12539-021-00438-3. Epub 2021 May 22.

Abstract

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently authorized the two messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 for emergency use against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causing the COVID-19 coronavirus disease. BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 vaccines were developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, respectively, in 2020. The United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, Mexico, United States, Singapore, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and European Union began their vaccination programs with the BNT162b2 vaccine, while the United States and Canada also started the mRNA-1273 vaccination program in mid December 2020. On 28th December 2020, studies reported severe allergic reactions in people who received the BNT162b2, and few people who received the mRNA-1273 vaccine. Authors of the letter thus attempt to explore possible causes of anaphylaxis following COVID-19 vaccination.

Keywords: Anaphylaxis; Antibody; BNT162b2; COVID-19; IgE; MRNA vaccine; MRNA-1273; PEG; SARS-CoV-2.

Publication types

  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • 2019-nCoV Vaccine mRNA-1273
  • Anaphylaxis / chemically induced*
  • Anaphylaxis / immunology
  • BNT162 Vaccine
  • COVID-19 Vaccines / adverse effects*
  • Drug Compounding
  • Drug Hypersensitivity / etiology*
  • Drug Hypersensitivity / immunology
  • Humans
  • Nanoparticles
  • Patient Safety
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors
  • Vaccination / adverse effects*
  • Vaccine Excipients / adverse effects*

Substances

  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • Vaccine Excipients
  • 2019-nCoV Vaccine mRNA-1273
  • BNT162 Vaccine