Contraindications to COVID vaccines

August 26, 2021 10:57 AM

I feel like I'm a skilled reader of medical communications but I cannot find an accessible source of info about specific medical contraindications to the available in US COVID vaccines? For example the CDC site does not provide like, a list. I need an easy to read (not fine print pharma paperwork if possible) reference to share with coworkers who have questions about the vaccine mandate and it's exceptions for healthcare workers in California. So this is not for folks who want to do a deep dive into all the possible risks and benefits. This is a way to provide a quick link for coworkers who want a medical excemption to the vaccine mandate.

In practice, I have heard of zero contraindications to vaccination (although I can imagine perhaps some providers dis-recommending J&J for folks who have a history of clotting disorders - they could simply recommend one of the other two approved vaccines instead).

For the record in case I invite flaming rage... I am extremely pro mandate. I expect to be able to show this to coworkers who want an out and in the great majority of cases say, "I don't think you qualify for an exception. Check out this"

posted by latkes to Health & Fitness (7 answers total)

Here's the CDC page on contraindications.

Scroll down!
Of course a lot of anti-vaxxers think the CDC is part of the socialist plot to take their freedumbs and guns away.
posted by mareli at 11:07 AM on August 26, 2021 [5 favorites]

package insert for Comirnaty -- the just-approved Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine -- lists only "known history of a severe allergic reaction ... to any component....," and there are "warnings and precautions" and "use in specific populations" sections.

similar information likely appears in respective FDA fact sheets for ModeRNA and Janssen, at fda.
posted by 20 year lurk at 11:11 AM on August 26, 2021 [2 favorites]

This depends on the employer's requirements. If the employer allows self-claim exemptions, there you go, there's the list. If the employer is not specifying anything other than CDC/FDA guidance, they will need to talk to the doctor that is treating them for the condition they believe medically exempts them, to get a letter that satisfies the employer's exemption requirements.

If the employer is providing the gaping loophole of religious or "personal" exemptions, there's their out.
posted by Lyn Never at 12:55 PM on August 26, 2021

Here is a more specific discussion of medical conditions which might be possible contra-indications from the CDC. Pretty much the only viable contra-indication is an allergic reaction to the ingredients but even that can often be mitigated with close supervision after the shot is administered but this page discusses things like myocarditis and autoimmune diseases in detail.
posted by metahawk at 1:09 PM on August 26, 2021 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Huh, not sure how I didn't see that on the CDC site! Thanks! (The California mandate requires a physician certification but this is like, for folks info. When they say they have a medical exemption I want to be able to share this link and say, "These are the known medical exemptions")
posted by latkes at 1:23 PM on August 26, 2021 [1 favorite]

Pretty much the only viable contra-indication is an allergic reaction to the ingredients but even that can often be mitigated with close supervision after the shot is administered but this page discusses things like myocarditis and autoimmune diseases in detail.

I can speak to this, as I actually had an allergic reaction to the Pfizer vaccine.

After the first shot, about 10 minutes in, I started wheezing. I had no other symptoms of allergic reaction, but I am an asthmatic. Because this was in a city-run vaccine place, they had both an emergency room doctor, and paramedics, tend to me. After 6 puffs of my Ventolin and waiting around for another hour, I was fine. This was unexpected; I've never had a bad asthma reaction to a vaccine before.

I talked it over with my GP afterwards, and expressed my desire to get the second Pfizer dose. Because I've had a covid-like illness in March 2020, and that took months for me to recover from, and now? I have Post-Viral Chronic Fatigue. So - for the second dose, I took some ventolin and a benadryl ahead of time, and sipped a triple shot Americano while I wanted for an hour afterwards. I also had my portable nebulizer with me in case things got *really* bad, and I was placed in an area to wait that was under more direct doctor's supervision. After chatting with a Pulmonologist about kittens for about 20 minutes after the second shot, he pronounced me "fine", and I could go. I was high as a kite, but no wheezing! I'll also be doing this for all of the boosters.

I also know that I probably could have begged it off and have gotten an exemption from my GP to not get this second dose. However, I am exceedingly grateful that I went through with it, especially with the Delta Variant out there.

I know this isn't exactly what you asked, but I wanted to tell my story of how they do indeed supervise those who have had allergic reactions in the past, but want to complete the vaccine sequence.
posted by spinifex23 at 1:36 PM on August 26, 2021 [25 favorites]

I expect to be able to show this to coworkers who want an out and in the great majority of cases say, "I don't think you qualify for an exception. Check out this"

This isn't exactly what you asked but my response to those people would be, "your physician should have told you what your contraindications are. Wait, you haven't talked to one about this?" Yes, this comes from a place of privilege where having a physician is the default. But if you don't have the money/insurance to have a physician, you definitely don't have the money to get covid.
posted by Candleman at 4:39 PM on August 26, 2021 [4 favorites]