Trip Answers

Question answered:16/11/07 Warning! this question is over two years old.

An American guideline published this year on immunization considers the issue of latex sensitivity:

 

“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–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.” [1]

 

The incidence of adverse reactions to vaccinate-associated latex products was discussed in a review by Russell et al. the Medline abstract to this paper states:

 

“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.” [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. Russell 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=15542187).

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