I have severe allergies (a medical history of anaphylactic reactions). Is the COVID-19 vaccine safe for me?

Because of reports of anaphylactic reactions in persons who received the COVID-19 vaccine outside of clinical trials, the CDC has proposed the following guidance:

• Persons who have had a severe allergic reaction to any vaccine or injectable therapy (intramuscular, intravenous, or subcutaneous) should not receive the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine at this time.
• Persons who have had a severe allergic reaction to any ingredient in a COVID-19 vaccine should not get that specific vaccine.
• Vaccine providers should observe patients after vaccination to monitor for the occurrence of immediate adverse reactions:
  • Persons with a history of anaphylaxis: 30 minutes
  • All other persons: 15 minutes
• This recommendation does not apply to persons with other severe allergic reactions (for example: food allergies).

Stanford Medicine recommends that persons with a history of anaphylaxis or severe allergic reactions discuss COVID-19 vaccination with their primary care physician.  The CDC Interim Considerations document details more considerations.