‘Get informed’: Duke doctor with a history of severe allergies gets COVID-19 vaccine

DURHAM, NC (WTVD) – A Dentist with a history of severe allergies who recently received her first dose of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is appealing to people like her to do their research and talk to their doctor about the vaccination.

Dr. Leonor Corsino, an endocrinologist and Assoc. Duke’s physician told ABC11 that she did her research before choosing to be vaccinated and that the benefits outweigh the risks.

“There are many reasons why,” she said. “One is, of course, because I wanted to be vaccinated to protect myself and my patients.”

Many of the patients treated with Corsino weekly have diabetes and are at higher risk for serious diseases if they contract the virus.

“Secondly, I do believe in vaccination,” Corsino said. “I have always received all my vaccinations. I trust science as an investigator.”

According to the CDC Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, there were seven reports of allergic reactions to the Pfizer vaccine and one to the Moderna vaccine in the US.

The CDC recently updated its guidelines, accordingly:

  • People who are allergic to any ingredient in a mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, including PEG or polysorbate, should not receive any of the current COVID-19 vaccines.
  • If you have had a severe allergic reaction after receiving the first dose of a mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, you should not receive the second dose.
  • If you have had an immediate allergic reaction to any ingredient in an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, even if it was not serious, you should not get any of the current mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.

In 2012, Corsino ended up in Duke’s emergency department, not knowing what was causing the anaphylactic reaction that led her to always wear an Epipen.

When Duke was tapped during the first days of the blast to get the Pfizer vaccine, she refused.

“However, after seeing that more than 2 million healthcare providers have received the vaccine in the past few weeks, and looking at the number of cases reported, I feel more comfortable,” she said.

After conducting research, Corsino received her first dose of Pfizer vaccine on 28 December.

“Actually, I didn’t have many worries, no pain in my arm. I know some people reported it,” she said. “The next day I had a little redness in my ears and a little tiredness. But after that I feel completely good.”
As a member of Duke’s Latin-19, an advocacy team formed during the pandemic to reach and help the Latino population, Corsino said this is another important reason why she made the informed decision to vaccinate word.

“My goal as a Latina and immigrant is to educate my community so that they feel comfortable following the recommendations so that we will not lose valuable lives because of this pandemic that is affecting them so excessively,” she said. .

For now, Corsino said she encourages others to do what she did.

“Read about it,” she said. “Get informed. Take time to make the decision.”

She is now looking forward to planning her second dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

“I’m not worried,” she said. “I have my Epipen. We know that anaphylaxis is something we can treat. And in that regard, I feel confident to get my second dose.”

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