Latex contamination in vaccines

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http://www.clinicalanswers.nhs.uk/index.cfm?question=6814

n American guideline published this year on immunization considers the

issue of latex sensitivity:

& #65533;Latex Allergy

The most common type of latex sensitivity is contact-type (type 4)

allergy, usually as a result of prolonged contact with

latex-containing gloves. However, injection-procedure & #65533;associated latex

allergies among patients with diabetes mellitus have been described.

Allergic reactions (including anaphylaxis) after vaccination

procedures are rare. Only one report of an allergic reaction after

administering HepB to a patient with known severe allergy

(anaphylaxis) to latex has been published.

If a person reports a severe (anaphylactic) allergy to latex, vaccines

supplied in vials or syringes that contain natural rubber should not

be administered, unless the benefit of vaccination outweighs the risk

for potential allergic reaction. For latex allergies other than

anaphylactic allergies (e.g., a history of contact allergy to latex

gloves), vaccines supplied in vials or syringes that contain dry

natural rubber or natural rubber latex can be administered. & #65533; [1]

The incidence of adverse reactions to vaccinate-associated latex

products was discussed in a review by et al. the Medline

abstract to this paper states:

& #65533;Vaccine products currently licensed in the US and other countries are

marketed in vials and syringes that may contain natural latex

allergens. Little scientific information exists regarding the safety

of vaccination of latex-allergic individuals. A review of data within

the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), a large registry

of reported possible vaccine adverse reactions was conducted. A search

of the database, which contains >160,000 vaccine adverse event

reports, revealed only 28 cases of possible immediate-type

hypersensitivity reactions in vaccine recipients with a history of

allergy to latex. Given the large number of immunizations administered

every year in the US, the reported risk of allergic reactions possibly

due to latex contamination of vaccines appears to be very small. & #65533; [2]

In addition, there is also the Latex Database that contains details of

latex-free medications and products available on the UKMi website.

This is password-protected resource and we are currently looking in to

who is able to access the database how to obtain passwords. As soon as

we receive this information we will post this information here.

References

1. Kroger AT, Atkinson WL, Marcuse EK, Pickering LK, Advisory

Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) Centers for Disease.

General recommendations on immunization: recommendations of the

Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) [published errata

appear in MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2007 Mar 23;56(11):256]. MMWR

Recomm Rep 2006 Dec 1;55(RR-15):1-48.

(http://www.guideline.gov/summary/summary.aspx?doc_id=10195 & nbr=5379 & ss=6 & xl=999\

)

2. M, Pool V and Kelso JM et al. Vaccination of persons

allergic to latex: a review of safety data in the Vaccine Adverse

Event Reporting System (VAERS). Vaccine. 2004 Dec 16;23(5):664-7.

(http://www.hubmed.org/display.cgi?uids=15542