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"Recent media reports of reactions to the new Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, first out of the U.K. and now one report in the United States are stirring safety concerns for people with a history of serious allergies. It’s important to remember that we still don’t have the full details regarding the specifics of any of these reported reactions. Allergists, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are all keeping an eye on these...

Halloween will look different this year with changes to classroom parties, festivals and trick-or-treating due to the coronavirus (COVID-19). But while you celebrate on a smaller scale or at home, you may still want to have allergy-friendly Halloween candy on hand. If you are looking for allergy-friendly treats, here are some top 8 free Halloween candy ideas. These candies are free of peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, egg, soy, wheat, fish and shellfish.

You have daily food allergy management down pat.   Two epinephrine auto-injectors go everywhere. The allergist is on speed dial. You know the best local stores and restaurants for safe foods. You've trained babysitters and the staff at school....

Update – Aug. 21, 2020 Sixteen leading food allergy experts, including some of our medical advisors , released school guidelines addressing food allergies in light of COVID-19. We have added those recommendations to this blog post. Schools face major challenges as they reopen for the 2020-2021 school year. To help reduce the spread of the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19 among staff and students, schools will follow new policies and practices. This causes many parents to wonder how this...

Cleaning your hands often is one of the easiest and best ways to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19 . It can also help reduce the spread of the flu, colds and other respiratory infections . It can also help you prevent foodborne illnesses while cooking, such as salmonella. Handwashing can also reduce the chance of food allergy reactions from cross-contact on surfaces. The average person touches their face about 23 times an hour. 1 Your hands come in contact with...

Update – July 16, 2020: The FDA's temporary labeling guidance will remain in effect for the length of the public health emergency (PHE) due to the spread of the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). A PHE is determined and declared by the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The PHE remains in place during the emergency or 90 days, but may be extended by the secretary. Though the current PHE is set to expire on July 25, 2020, HHS Secretary Azar has said he will extend the...

Update: We are pleased to announce that on June 18, 2020, the FDA responded to our joint letter on their temporary labeling guidelines. They released a list of FAQs to help clear up confusion. The FDA is making it clear that: Any substitution that involves a top 8 allergen recognized by law and those identified as “priority allergens” by other countries including sesame, celery, lupin, buckwheat, molluscan shellfish and mustard must require a label change by manufacturers and vendors The...

May is National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month . May 10-16, 2020, is Food Allergy Awareness Week. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) and MedicAlert have teamed up to help you manage your child’s food allergies and prevent severe allergic reactions. (Kids With Food Allergies is a division of AAFA). We’re asking you to “ACT” to manage your child’s allergies: “A” means have an action plan for anaphylaxis. “C” reminds you to carry important medicines and have your child wear...

May is National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month . May 10-16, 2020, is Food Allergy Awareness Week. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) and MedicAlert have teamed up to help you manage your child’s food allergies and prevent severe allergic reactions. (Kids With Food Allergies is a division of AAFA). We’re asking you to “ACT” to manage your child’s allergies: “A” means have an action plan for anaphylaxis. “C” reminds you to carry important medicines and have your child wear...

May is National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month . May 10-16, 2020, is Food Allergy Awareness Week. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) and MedicAlert have teamed up to help you manage your child’s food allergies and prevent severe allergic reactions. (Kids With Food Allergies is a division of AAFA). We’re asking you to “ACT” to manage your child’s allergies: “A” means have an action plan for anaphylaxis. “C” reminds you to carry important medicines and have your child wear...

The manufacturers of epinephrine auto-injectors have extended their U.S. savings card programs through 2018. Epinephrine is the only treatment for a severe allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis (anna-fih-LACK-sis). It is only available through a prescription by your doctor. Each prescription comes with two auto-injectors in a set. People with food allergies need two of these auto-injectors with them at all times.

More than 32 million people in the United States have food allergies. About 5.6 million are children. And children with food allergies are two to four times more likely to have asthma or other allergic diseases. COVID-19 (the new coronavirus) has impacted our food supply, making it harder for people with food allergies to buy safe food. To kick off National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month , the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) and the MedicAlert Foundation have partnered to...