Anaphylaxis Occurs in 6 Cases from 1.5 Million COVID-19 Vaccinations in Armenia

In Armenia, out of approximately 1.5 million COVID-19 vaccinations administered, anaphylaxis—a severe allergic reaction—has occurred in only 6 cases. This information was shared by Gayané Sahakyan, Deputy Director of the Health Ministry’s National Center for Disease Control and Prevention and Head of the National Immunization Program, during a training session for journalists.

Anaphylaxis can occur between 15 minutes and 40 minutes after vaccination. It is primarily a hypersensitive reaction of the body to one of the components of the vaccine, which can lead to symptoms such as a drop in blood pressure, difficulty in breathing, and more.

“The first 40 minutes can pose a danger to life; if no first aid is provided, anything can happen. That’s why patients are advised to stay in the health facility for some time to receive medical assistance if needed. The longer the process lasts, the less severe the anaphylactic reaction becomes. Even if a patient feels unwell at home, emergency services can provide assistance, or they can go to a healthcare facility themselves,” said Pirijita Simonyan from the Immunization and Epidemiology Department of the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Experts assure that all healthcare facilities are equipped with the necessary medications to treat patients experiencing anaphylaxis.