Should I Undergo Any Allergy Testing Prior To The Vaccine?

Posted on Mon, 22 Mar 2021

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Mon, 22 Mar 2021 Answered on

Mon, 3 Feb 2025 Last reviewed on

Question : I would like to get the Pfizer covid vaccine. I am being asked if I’ve ever had a reaction to an ingredient in the vaccine. I have no history of severe allergic reactions and no history of any negative reactions to vaccines. However, my concern is that I did have a local reaction to the Tubersol TB skin test. It caused what appeared to be a very positive result. It was 20+mm, red, and itchy. After a clear chest x-ray I requested a repeat test with Aplisol. No reaction that time. The nurse said that I may have had a reaction to the ingredients in Tubersol, but as an untrained person the ingredients look the same to me in both TB tests. I would like to know if there is any ingredients in the Pfizer vaccine that are in the Tubersol TB test and could have caused my reaction. I suffer from pretty severe anxiety and OCD so I need to feel confident that I am safe to take the vaccine or I will likely have a panic attack and chicken out :(

Answered by Dr. Dr. Rajat Basak (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Possibility of allergic reaction

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

If you are having any allergic reaction to tuberculin test or any other food or drug then you may or may not have allergic reaction to vaccine. But tuberculin protein has no similarity with the protein used in vaccine. So it's unlikely u can have a reaction. But it's always safe to take some antiallergic injection like Avil 1 hour before taking the vaccine and to be observed for at least 1 hour after taking the vaccine. So deal with the problem not with anxiety or ocd but with proper precautions and medication as vaccine is also necessary in this covid situation. Consult the immunologist before taking the vaccine.

Please review if you have any queries.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj