ABSTRACT
Background: The Spanish COVID-19 vaccination program commenced in December 2020. Some patients were excluded due to background pathologies, ever changing vaccination protocols and the risk of the secondary effects. Some were allergy patients with previous non-vaccine- related anaphylactic episodes, mastocytosis, and food or drug allergies. There were concerns that patients with secondary effects after the first or second doses would be reluctant to have further doses. The Allergy department at the Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias created a COVID-19 pre-and post-vaccination in-person program in which allergy excipient testing and vaccination were carried out when necessary. As far as we are aware, this is the first ever allergy-led testing and vaccination centre protocol of this kind. Method(s): 110 consecutive patients received at least one vaccine dose under the program in the Allergy Department from January 2021 to February 2022. Result(s): Females were more likely to be referred to the Allergy Department (90% of the total). The mean patient age was 53 years and ranged from 18 to 92 years. 27% were existing patients referred internally by the Allergy department, with the remainder from elsewhere. Angioedema (9%), mastocytosis (4%) and anaphylaxis (17%) were some of the patients' preconditions. A third of patients had two or more doses administered in the department. 61% of patients who received one dose of vaccine in the Allergy department went on to complete the full vaccination course as per national Spanish protocol. Only 16% could not continue with immunizations due to a severe allergic reaction to their first or second doses. None of the patients in the Allergy department program required emergency care after vaccination. Conclusion(s): The majority of patients at high risk of secondary effects were able to complete their vaccination course after the Allergy department input. The Allergy department can work as a successful vaccination centre when required.