Vaccines, anaphylactic reaction caused

Systemic reactions, such as moderate fever, occur in 3% to 5% of those receiving vaccines. Very rarely, high fever, febrile seizures, persistent crying spells, and hypotonic hyporesponsive episodes occur after vaccination. There are only two absolute contraindications to pertussis administration an immediate anaphylactic reaction to a previous dose or encephalopathy within 7 days of a previous dose, with no evidence of other cause. 

Moraten vaccine, Berna (virus grown in human fibroblast cultures and therefore certainly ovalbumin-free) was given to a 2-year-old boy with atopic dermatitis (129). The skin tests were positive to cow s milk and egg. Within a few minutes after the receipt of the vaccine, the child developed severe dyspnea, rhino-conjunctivitis, and lip cyanosis he was successfully treated for an acute anaphylactic reaction. The case seems to demonstrate that the very rare allergic reactions after the administration of measles and MMR vaccines could be due to causes other than egg protein. 

Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine generally is considered safe based on clinical experience since 1977, when the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine was licensed in the United States. Mild, local side effects (e.g., pain at the injection site, erythema, and swelling) develop in approximately half of persons who receive pneumococcal vaccine. These reactions usually persist for less than 48 hours. Moderate systemic reactions (e.g., fever and myalgias) and more severe local reactions (e.g., local induration) are rare. Intradermal administration may cause severe local reactions and is inappropriate. Severe systemic adverse effects (e.g., anaphylactic reactions) rarely have been reported after administration of pneumococcal vaccine (34,37). Pneumococcal vaccination has not been causally associated with death or neurological illness (e.g., Guillain-Barre syndrome) among vaccine recipients. 

Non-IgE-mediated anaphylactic (anaphylactoid) reactions suspected to be caused by dextran as used in BCG vaccines have been described (SEDA-16, 375). 

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