Should I Have The Covid Vaccine
The decision as to whether or not to have the vaccine, is a very personal one. You should carefully consider all the available information and make a decision based on your personal circumstances. If you are still unsure, I would recommend discussing the options further with your doctor or dermatologist.
Are The Vaccines Safe And Effective For People With Eczema
The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines are authorized for use in the United States, and are safe for people with mild, moderate, and severe eczema cases, Dr. Green says. According to the National Eczema Association, people with eczema may also have other allergies, but that also shouldnt be a concern.
People with allergies food, pets, venom, environmental allergies, latex allergies, and even people who have eczema can safely get the vaccine, says Lakiea Wright, MD, aphysician in the allergy and immunology department of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and themedical directorat Thermo Fisher Scientific. We know that millions have been vaccinated now and they can do so safety, with the exception of people who are allergic to any of the components of the vaccine.
So while having eczema or many other allergies isnt likely to set off an allergic reaction, being allergic to one of the ingredients in the vaccines might. If you have many allergies, Green says to review the ingredients in the vaccine you are to receive and consult with your allergist to be sure that its safe for you. According to the American College of Asthma, Allergy, and Immunology , polyethylene glycol is one ingredient in the COVID-19 vaccines thats been shown to cause anaphylaxis. If you know youre allergic to PEG, you should not receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Polysorbate 80, which is found in the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, is another ingredient to watch out for.
Eczema Treatments And Covid
Some people with eczema take systemic treatments that affect the immune system. Examples of these medications include prednisone, cyclosporine, methotrexate, Imuran , and Cellcept .
When taking systemic medication, it is advised that you avoid live vaccines. None of the COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use in the United States contain a live virus. Therefore, if you are taking a treatment that affects the immune system, it is advised that you can safely receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Even though it is considered safe to have the COVID-19 vaccine, clinicians advise they still do not know whether being on an immunosuppressant or biologic treatment will reduce the vaccine’s effectiveness. Research is still ongoing in this area.
If you take immunosuppressants, systemic, or biologic medication for your eczema and are concerned about whether you are more at risk from COVID-19, then speak to your healthcare professional for support and advice.
Some clinicians advocate taking extra safety precautions to reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19 if you are on multiple medications or have additional underlying health conditions.
You May Like: How Many Cdc Employees Are Vaccinated
Study Author And Board
ROSEMONT, Ill. As COVID-19 vaccination ramps up globally, new research published today in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology demonstrates the wide variety of skin rashes, including full-body rashes, observed after COVID-19 vaccination. The authors provide reassurance that these reactions are generally mild, resolve on their own, and should not deter the public from getting vaccinated.
“We understand that some of these reactions may look scary, but when they appear more than four hours after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, they are typically minor and in some cases, may indicate the bodys immune system is doing a good job of responding to the vaccine,” says senior study author and board-certified dermatologist Esther Freeman, MD, PhD, FAAD, director of Global Health Dermatology at Massachusetts General Hospital and principal investigator of the international COVID-19 Dermatology Registry. “Some rashes may appear a day or two after vaccination, and some have a delayed onset, as long as 7-14 days after vaccination. Most of these rashes resolve on their own with time or depending on the rash may require oral antihistamines, topical steroids, or other treatments as directed by a physician.”
If you have concerns about a rash or other skin reaction that develops after getting the COVID-19 vaccine, dont hesitate to call your doctor or a board-certified dermatologist.
To find a board-certified dermatologist in your area, visit aad.org/findaderm.
# # #
Special Considerations For Jynneos

- Two doses of JYNNEOS are required, as this is the only FDA-approved dosing regimen.
- JYNNEOS has been evaluated in clinical studies involving people with HIV infection and atopic dermatitis and shown to be safe and effective in eliciting an immune response in these populations.
- People who receive JYNNEOS are considered to reach maximum immunity 14 days after their second dose . They should continue to take precautions against monkeypox during this time.
- We do not know if JYNNEOS will fully protect against monkeypox virus infection in this outbreak. Individuals wanting to minimize their risk of infection should take additional preventive measures and self-isolate as soon as they develop monkeypox symptoms, such as a rash. Infections despite vaccination may occur, and there is currently no data on effectiveness of JYNNEOS from the current outbreak.
Also Check: What Vaccine Is For Bacterial Meningitis
Considerations For Monkeypox Vaccination
- Two vaccines licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are available for preventing monkeypox infection JYNNEOS and ACAM2000.
- In the United States, there is currently a limited supply of JYNNEOS, although more is expected in coming weeks and months.
- There is an ample supply of ACAM2000. However, this vaccine should not be used in people who have some health conditions, including a weakened immune system, skin conditions like atopic dermatitis/eczema, or pregnancy.
- No data are available yet on the effectiveness of these vaccines in the current outbreak.
- People are considered fully vaccinated about 2 weeks after their second shot of JYNNEOS and 4 weeks after receiving ACAM2000. However, people who get vaccinated should continue to take steps to protect themselves from infection by avoiding close, skin-to-skin contact, including intimate contact, with someone who has monkeypox.
- To better understand the protective benefits of these vaccines in the current outbreak, CDC will collect data on any side effects and whether the way the person was infected makes any difference in how well the vaccine protects them.
Vaccine Strategies to Prevent Monkeypox
When properly administered before or after a recent exposure, vaccines can be effective tools at protecting people against monkeypox illness. The following vaccination strategies are being used in the United States:
Monkeypox Vaccine Post-Exposure Prophylaxis
Does Having An Additional Health Condition Besides Eczema Affect My Place In Line
Potentially. The CDC recommends that individuals between ages 16 and 64 who have underlying medical conditions that put them at increased risk of developing serious, life-threatening complications from COVID-19 be included in the phase 1c rollout of the vaccine. If you have one of these health conditions, you may qualify to receive the vaccine earlier than the general population. Again, its up to the state you live in to determine when you will become eligible and which underlying health conditions qualify.
RELATED: What People With Heart Disease Need to Know About COVID-19
Also Check: How Often Should You Get The Shingles Vaccine
Covid Vaccine And Eczema
Despite Dr Lio’s anecdotal report, according to The Eczema Society, there is so far, ‘no evidence to suggest that Covid-19 vaccines will worsen eczema, and no reason to think they would‘.
They ask that if you do experience side effects following receipt of the vaccine, including worsening of your eczema, to please report it to the Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency s Coronavirus Yellow Card reporting site. Or alternatively, highlight concerns to your GP.
The Eczema Society advise people taking systemic treatments that affect the immune system to avoid live vaccines. The three Covid-19 vaccines that are currently being rolled-out in the UK are not live vaccines and have no Covid-19 virus in them. Meaning people using existing immune system treatments can take the vaccine.
Anecdotal Reports Of Skin Flares
Whilst the scientific evidence so far points to there being no strong correlation between the vaccine and instances of psoriasis flares, anecdotally patients have come to me to question a correlation. So far each week I’ve received a handful of emails from people with psoriasis, highlighting a worsening of their condition post-jab. It’s early days and there could of course be other coincidental factors for these noted flares. If you do notice a change in your symptoms, please or consider using the links below to share your experience with PsoProtectMe.
IMMUNOCOMPROMISED TREATMENT OPTIONS
It’s suggested that for patients with rare, genetic immune deficiencies, chronic illness that impairs the immune system , plus cancer and organ-transplant patients who take immunosuppressive drugs, Covid vaccines may not be as effective. This is because these patients are less capable of making their own antibodies to neutralise the virus. According to a recent article in National Geographic, pharmaceutical companies around the world are racing to develop alternative treatments that have the ability to bypass the immune system altogether.
You May Like: Why Is A Booster Dose Of Vaccine Required
Special Considerations For Acam2000
- Previous smallpox vaccination does provide protection, but it may not necessarily be lifelong. During the 2003 monkeypox outbreak and during the current outbreak, several people who were infected with monkeypox had previously been vaccinated against smallpox decades prior.
- In response to an outbreak, vaccines and other medical measures would also be given to eligible people who were previously vaccinated against smallpox.
- See current ACIP recommendations for revaccination guidance for those at occupational risk of exposure.
What Is Eczema Vaccinatum
Eczema vaccinatum is a complication that sometimes occurs as a result of the smallpox vaccination. This complication only occurs in people who have eczema.
EV causes a painful rash, fever, and other symptoms. It is most dangerous to young children and always requires medical treatment. EV can be fatal in severe cases.
Don’t Miss: How Long Do You Have To Wait Between Vaccines
What Causes Eczema Vaccinatum
Some forms of the smallpox vaccine contain a live virus. This viral material is normally harmless. Most people who receive the smallpox vaccine have mild symptoms such as a sore arm or a slight fever for a day or two but have no long-term or serious complications. In fact, EV doesnt occur as a result of the injected live virus. Rather, EV develops when the live virus gets into the body through your skin.
Eczema damages the skins natural barriers. People with eczema are at higher risk of bacterial, fungal, and viral skin infections. These infections may be more complex for people with eczema than standard cases and they require additional or specialized treatments. Similarly, people with eczema can develop an infection if the live virus contained in the smallpox vaccine touches their skin. This can happen if a person with eczema:
- touches the site of their smallpox vaccination before its fully healed
- touches the bandage that was covering their vaccination site
- touches an item that came in contact with an unhealed vaccination site such as clothing, towels, or washcloths
- itches their vaccination site
- touches another persons vaccination site, vaccination bandage, and personal items such as clothing, towels, or washcloths
Where To Get The Monkeypox Vaccine

There are two vaccines licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for preventing monkeypox infectionJynneos and ACAM2000.
The ACAM2000 is not advised for individuals with certain health conditions such as a weakened immune system, or skin conditions like atopic dermatitis, eczema, or pregnancy, according to the CDC. It is the Jynneos vaccine that is currently being distributed by HHS, though states and jurisdictions can also request the ACAM2000.
Access to the Jynneos vaccine is limited to people with either a known exposure or those who were alerted to a known exposure by a venue or event they recently attended. The vaccine distribution approach includes a four-tier system with top priority going to jurisdictions with the highest rate of monkeypox. Within each of those tiers, individuals with pre-existing conditions, such as HIV, will be given priority.
As part of this rollout strategy, HHS has also been working to expand access to the vaccine for prophylacticor preventativeuse in areas where there is a particularly high transmission rate.
In states and jurisdictions where the vaccine is being made available, such as in New York for example, temporary clinics are being set up where individuals can get the vaccine. Washington D.C. just announced that district residents can pre-register for vaccination appointments by visiting PreventMonkeyPox.dc.gov. The full list of states and jurisdictions that have requested vaccine supplies from HHS can be found here.
Read Also: Does Bcbs Cover Shingles Vaccine
Who Shouldn’t Get It
A person should not get Shingrix if:
- They have ever had a severe allergic reaction to any component of the vaccine or the first dose of the vaccine.
- They test negative for immunity to varicella-zoster virus.
- They currently have shingles.
- They are pregnant.
If you are experiencing a moderate to severe illness, with a fever or not, you should consider waiting until you are better before getting the vaccine.
Power Of Choice: Beverly Hills Will Not Enforce Las Potential Mask Mandate
An itchy rash may be a side effect of receiving the Moderna vaccine, doctors said.
About 12 recipients in a 30,000-person trial have seen their arms turn red, sore, itchy or swollen about a week after receiving the first dose, according to a letter from doctors in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Five of the patients had large skin lesions more than 10 centimeters in diameter at the injection site, the letter said.
Two experienced the rash in other places, such as near the elbow and on the palm of the hand.
The rash appeared on average about eight days after getting the first jab, but then resolved itself in all of the cases about four or five days later, the report said.
All 12 patients were encouraged to receive the second dose and completed their vaccination course, the letter said.
Three of the patients experienced the same reaction after the second dose, while three of the others had skin issues that were less severe.
The doctors said the reactions appear to be harmless but could be mistaken for more serious conditions.
Whether youve experienced a rash at the injection site right away or this delayed skin reaction, neither condition should prevent you from getting the second dose of the vaccine, lead author Dr. Kimberly Blumenthal of Massachusetts General Hospital said in a statement.
Don’t Miss: Can You Get The Flu From The Flu Vaccine
Which Types Of Face Coverings Are The Most Eczema
Face coverings made from 100% cotton that can be washed regularly are probably the most eczema-friendly type of covering. Cloth ear loops are less likely to irritate the skin than elastic ones. Also consider coverings that tie around the back of the head. Mask headbands or hats with buttons are another option. With these, the elastic loops around the buttons rather than your ears. Neck gaiters, buffs or tube scarfs, which are basically a tube of material, might suit too if 100% cotton.
Make sure the covering fits snugly around your nose and mouth but isnt tight.
Avoid applying ointment emollients to the face shortly before you put on a covering, as they might make the face too hot.
Supplier suggestions:
- Spirit of Nature sells 100% cotton face masks.
- Etsy has lots of different types of face coverings for sale. Search for the type youre interested in.
- Handybands from Seasalt have been recommended to us by a Facebook follower. They can be used as face coverings as well as head bands. Organic cotton face masks are also available from Seasalt.
- There are lots of guides and video tutorials showing you how to make different types of face covering, for example: BBC, .
If you have severe facial eczema that is made worse by wearing a face covering, the Government has exemption badges and cards on its website that you can print out.
Skin Reaction To Covid Vaccine
Let me begin this article with a caveat. First, I’m not a medically qualified doctor, so the information below is a combined result of the anecdotal experiences people have shared with me or their GPs, and facts I’ve established through my own research . Secondly, the Covid vaccine is in its infancy, so studies of its impact on specific population groups are relatively small, or in some cases nonexistent. As is normal in preliminary studies, both the Pfizer and Moderna trials, for example, excluded volunteers on immunosuppressive therapy, so we don’t yet know exactly how these patients might respond.
Recommended Reading: How Many People Have Been Vaccinated In New York
Vaccinia Immune Globulin Intravenous
VIGIV is licensed by FDA for the treatment of complications due to vaccinia vaccination including eczema vaccinatum, progressive vaccinia, severe generalized vaccinia, vaccinia infections in individuals who have skin conditions, and aberrant infections induced by vaccinia virus . CDC holds an expanded access protocol that allows the use of VIGIV for the treatment of orthopoxviruses in an outbreak.
Data are not available on the effectiveness of VIG in treatment of monkeypox virus infection. Use of VIG has no proven benefit in the treatment of monkeypox and it is unknown whether a person with severe monkeypox infection will benefit from treatment with VIG. However, healthcare providers may consider its use in severe cases.
VIG can be considered for prophylactic use in an exposed person with severe immunodeficiency in T-cell function for which smallpox vaccination following exposure to monkeypox virus is contraindicated.