Are allergy shots safe?

Although very rare, Immunotherapy treatment has been fatal, even when prepared and administered as recommended by the JTF. It is for this reason that not all patients with nasal allergies are offered allergy shots. The physician must decide with the patient if the benefits of allergy shots outweigh the risks. All patients who receive immunotherapy from an Allergist review a written “consent for treatment” that includes an estimated risk for serious allergic reactions to immunotherapy. This risk estimation for injury or death is based on national survey results obtained only from Allergists who have been formally trained to administer immunotherapy. The JTF estimates the risk of death from allergy shots to be extremely low, occurring in 1 in 2.5 million shots. These statistics cannot be accurately applied to the practice of allergy by any physician who has not received training in this procedure or by those who do not follow the guidelines as published by JTF (J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2007; vol 120(3), S25-85: Allergen Immunotherapy: A Practice Parameter second update). *Failure to follow the safety guidelines proposed by the JTF could result in a much higher risks for injury or death.  
   



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