The good news is that the COVID-19 vaccines are safe for people with eczema, and the experts we spoke to have been suggesting them for their patients. “It is recommended and encouraged that people with eczema get the COVID-19 vaccine,” says Michele Green, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City. RELATED: 8 Hand Eczema Dos and Don’ts for Cleansing Here’s what you should know about the COVID-19 vaccines.
1. When Will I Be Able to Get the Vaccine if I Have Eczema?
This depends on where you live, because each state is responsible for deciding how they’re rolling out the vaccine. Visit your state’s health department to learn about its plan. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has put together a recommended priority list of who should receive the vaccine first, which includes frontline workers, people over age 75, and individuals with underlying health conditions that put them at increased risk of severe COVID-19. According to the National Eczema Association, COVID-19 does not increase the risk of life-threatening complications for people with eczema.
2. 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, it’s 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
3. Where Can I Get a COVID-19 Vaccine Once People With Eczema Are Allowed?
Reach out to your local health department or your doctor for more information. Vaccines are being administered in doctors’ offices, pharmacies, and designated vaccination sites around the country. Or try searching on VaccineFinder.org to find a vaccine location near you.
4. Are COVID-19 Vaccines Free for People With Eczema?
Yes. The COVID-19 vaccines are free to everyone living in the United States, regardless of their immigration status and whether or not they have health insurance, says the CDC. RELATED: Can Diet and Lifestyle Choices Affect COVID-19 Vaccine Efficacy?
5. 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. (On April 13, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration [FDA] and the CDC recommended pausing distribution of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine out of an abundance of caution, due to a potential link with blood clots.) According to the National Eczema Association, people with eczema may also have other allergies, but that also shouldn’t 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, a physician in the allergy and immunology department of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and the medical director at 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 isn’t 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 it’s safe for you. According to the American College of Asthma, Allergy, and Immunology (ACAAI), polyethylene glycol (PEG) is one ingredient in the COVID-19 vaccines that’s been shown to cause anaphylaxis. If you know you’re 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.
6. What Side Effects of the Vaccine Should People With Eczema Pay Attention To?
So far, there’s no indication that a COVID-19 vaccine will worsen eczema, Dr. Wright says. You may experience common side effects associated with the vaccine, however, such as pain and swelling at the injection site or tiredness, headache, chills, muscle pain, fever, and nausea, especially after your second dose if you’re receiving the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines. In general, all three vaccines come with the same possible side effects. These reactions are normal and should resolve within a few days, per the CDC. It’s also not likely that the vaccine will set off an allergic reaction. “Anaphylaxis is the severe allergic reaction that we worry about, and that’s very rare with the COVID-19 vaccinations,” Wright says. “It’s about five per one million doses.” If you’re prone to allergies or have had a reaction to another vaccine, the National Eczema Association suggests waiting at the vaccination center for 30 minutes after receiving the shot (instead of the recommended 15 minutes) to make sure you don’t have an adverse reaction. RELATED: Track the Vax: Is the COVID Vaccine Safety System That Tracks Side Effects Working?
7. If I’m on an Eczema Medication That Suppresses the Immune System, Can I Get the COVID Vaccine?
Before receiving the vaccine, review your current medications with your doctor and ask if you should pause treatment or start a new treatment later than planned if you’re currently taking an immunosuppressant medication (such as prednisolone, azathioprine, ciclosporin, methotrexate, mycophenolate mofetil, dupilumab, or tacrolimus), suggests the National Eczema Society (NEA). In the case of dupilumab, consider waiting 24–72 hours after your vaccination before receiving your injection, as one NEA article suggests. (While people on this medication cannot receive live vaccines, the COVID-19 vaccines do not contain live viruses, so this is not a concern.) As for whether immunosuppressant medications affect vaccine efficacy, it’s unclear, Green says. “Certainly, these medications will not prevent development of some immunity, though they could potentially reduce the immune response and the level of protection offered,” she adds.
8. Are There Any Other Questions I Should Ask My Doctor About the Vaccine if I Have Eczema?
Ask your doctor what to do if you’re experiencing an eczema flare-up in the area where the shot will be injected. He or she may advise you to receive the shot in a different area where the skin is not flaring, Green says. And if you do notice a rash at the injection site a day or two after receiving the vaccine, don’t worry. Wright says that can happen and it shouldn’t dissuade you from receiving the second dose, though you should let your doctor know. Finally, be sure to tell your doctor if you’ve ever had a bad reaction to a vaccine in the past and review the risks and benefits associated with an allergic reaction to the vaccine if you have a history of anaphylaxis, Green adds. He or she can assess your risk and help you make the best decision for you. RELATED: What to Know About the Connection Between Eczema and Stress
