My younger daughter's problems w/vaccine

[Dirty Socialist]

My younger daughter has not been vaccinated. She is allergic to propylene glycol, which is in the Pfizer vaccine and the Moderna vaccine. In addition, I hear the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is only 33% effective against the Delta variant. Finally, she was once given a shot of Benadryl, which caused a systemic reaction. Therefore, we are unsure about how she can go about her business, including learning how to drive. Any advice?

[snowybirdie]

1. This is

Something you need to discuss with medical specialists.

[MissB]

2. Does she have a primary care physician?

She should be talking to her doctor about whether or not she can get the vaccination. Some people legitimately cannot and your daughter may be one of those people! But I’m not a doctor, so it’d be best if she spoke to hers to work this out.

I feel bad for folks that cannot be vaccinated and have to set aside their lives because a bunch of jerks won’t get vaccinated.

[Mariana]

3. I have advice. Call her doctor and ask him or her what to do. nt.

[Blues Heron]

4. you mean Polyethylene glycol?

Go with what her doctor says

[ProfessorGAC]

5. There's No Propylene Glycol In The Vaccines

There is a tiny amount of polyethylene glycol, which, while in the same chemical species, are very different molecules.
PG is a low molecular weight diol, with a 3 carbon backbone. It's molecular weight is 60.
Polyethylene glycol is polymeric chain of 2 carbon backbones connected by an ether linkage (a singular oxygen atom) repeating over & over. There are PEGs between 300 & 60,000 molecular weight.
That said, there is a tiny chance of someone being allergic to PEG. It's very rare, but not impossible. Much rarer though, than allergies to simple diols.
This can be easily tested with a skin scratch test. A doctor could know in 10 minutes whether it's a concern or not.

[hlthe2b]

11. Yes. And the J&J vaccine contains neither, so is only an issue for those with polysorbate allergy

While the J&J vaccine has somewhat less efficacy, it is a good vaccine for preventing hospitalization and death. And THAT is what is most important right now.

It may well be that a recommendation for a J&J booster may be forthcoming, but right now, J&J is still a good vaccine (even against delta).

[ProfessorGAC]

13. Good Point

They're referring to the PEG as a stabilizer. I'm not immediately deducing how PEG stabilizes, though.
It's possible that the terminal hydroxyl groups in the PEG are more easily oxidized than sites on the active agent in the vaccine, thereby slowing oxidative decomposition. Not sure.
Another wild possibility is that it helps create a partition of PEG/water in which the active agent preferentially solubilized, so it's not all in 100% water, slowing hydrolysis.
The low temperature requirements lead me to believe that the active components are susceptible to either hydrolysis or oxidation.
Again, I'm not sure. Just speculating.

[Lars39]

6. Talk to her doctor.

[Iggo]

7. She's special.

[Meowmee]

8. It contains peg not propylene glycol

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/clinical-considerations/covid-19-vaccines-us.html#Appendix-C




She can be tested in advance for allergies to any problematic ingredients.

The first link says somewhere people who had a reaction to the first shot can consider having a shot of the Janssen vax for the second shot.

She may be able to be treated with other antihistamines instead of benedryl as well as epinephrine and steroids for severe reactions.

[Timewas]

9. 33%

Is better than nothing at all

[pinkstarburst]

10. Talk to your doctor

and pharmacist. If the issue is a known allergen in the RNA vaccines, they may be able to tell you if it's present in the J&J vaccine. If her doctor believes she is able to safely take the J&J vaccine, I would certainly get her the shot, especially if she's going to be out and about. 33% protection is better than zero protection.

[Bev54]

12. My advice would be to talk with Dr's and scientists

and not people on a social media site.