Management of BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in children aged 5-11 years with allergies, asthma, and immunodeficiency: consensus of the Italian Society of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology (SIAIP)

Elio Novembre; Mariangela Tosca; Carlo Caffarelli; Mauro Calvani; Fabio Cardinale; Riccardo Castagnoli; Elena Chiappini; Claudio Cravidi; Michele Miraglia Del Giudice; Marzia Duse; Amelia Licari; Sara Manti; Alberto Martelli; Giampaolo Ricci; Giuseppe Pingitore; Gian Luigi Marseglia

doi:10.1186/s13052-022-01272-z

Management of BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in children aged 5-11 years with allergies, asthma, and immunodeficiency: consensus of the Italian Society of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology (SIAIP)

Ital J Pediatr. 2022 May 16;48(1):76. doi: 10.1186/s13052-022-01272-z.

Authors

Elio Novembre¹, Mariangela Tosca², Carlo Caffarelli³, Mauro Calvani⁴, Fabio Cardinale⁵, Riccardo Castagnoli^{6

7}, Elena Chiappini⁸, Claudio Cravidi⁹, Michele Miraglia Del Giudice¹⁰, Marzia Duse¹¹, Amelia Licari^{6

7}, Sara Manti¹², Alberto Martelli¹³, Giampaolo Ricci¹⁴, Giuseppe Pingitore¹⁵, Gian Luigi Marseglia^{6

7}

Affiliations

¹ Allergy Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Meyer Children's University Hospital, Florence, Italy.
² Allergy Center, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy.
³ Pediatric Clinic, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Via Gramsci, 14, Parma, Italy. carlo.caffarelli@gmail.com.
⁴ Operative Unit of Pediatrics, S. Camillo-Forlanini Hospital, Rome, Italy.
⁵ Pediatric Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria "Policlinico- Giovanni XXIII, Bari, Italy.
⁶ Pediatric Clinic, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
⁷ Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
⁸ Paediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Health Sciences, Anna Meyer Children's University Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
⁹ ATS Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
¹⁰ Department of Woman and Child and General and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy.
¹¹ Department of Maternal Infantile and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
¹² Pediatric Respiratory Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, San Marco Hospital, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
¹³ Pediatrician at the University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
¹⁴ Alma Mater Studiorum, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
¹⁵ Pediatrician and Allergist, Rome, Italy.

Abstract

BNT162b2 vaccine, developed by BioNTech and Pfizer ha recently approved for use in children aged 5 to 11 years. Recent data show evidence of safety on the administration and serious adverse events have been rarely reported. However, allergic systemic reactions could occur. In some cases, a correct allergic evaluation allows identifying patients at risk of developing an anaphylactic reaction. Risk assessment of allergic reactions to COVID-19 vaccines is useful to limit contraindications to vaccination and help to safely vaccinate people supposed to be at risk of allergic reactions.

Keywords: Adverse event; Allergy; BNT162b2; COVID-19; Children; Pfizer BioNtech; SARS-CoV-2; Side effect; Vaccine; mRNA vaccine.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Anaphylaxis*
Asthma*
BNT162 Vaccine
COVID-19 Vaccines / adverse effects
COVID-19* / epidemiology
COVID-19* / prevention & control
Child
Consensus
Humans
RNA, Messenger
SARS-CoV-2

Substances

COVID-19 Vaccines
RNA, Messenger
BNT162 Vaccine