Age: 45.0
Sex: F
Vaccine: COVID19
Symptoms: Injection site urticaria, Injection site warmth, Pain in extremity, Skin exfoliation
Clinical narrative: On April 29, 2021, I visited the allergist to be tested and rule out any reaction to polyethylene, the ingredient known for causing allergic reactions to mRNA vaccines.  I showed no allergic reaction, which made me feel a little more at ease, so left and later that same  day on the April 29, 2021, I received my first Moderna shot.   Other than the expected sore arm the next morning, I had no side effects. Then, on May 13, 2021, exactly 2 weeks later, the arm I received the vaccine in started itching really bad and the injection location swelled up.  Later that same evening, as I was typing, my arm got really hot and started burning really, really bad. I started rubbing it and noticed that my skin felt like cotton and started peeling off as I rubbed. I looked down and noticed I had broken out in hives from my shoulder down to my elbow.  It felt like my arm was burning from the inside out.  Nothing helped to cool it off except ice packs, which most of the time I couldn?t use because my skin was peeling.  I took some Motrin  and immediately did some research online. It seems I had what has become commonly referred to as ?COVID-Arm?, and there is no medication available to treat this type of delayed allergic reaction because everything with this virus is still in the clinic trial phase.  All of the heavy hitters - the CDC,  etc - basically say to just tough it out, it will subside, and to continue with getting the second vaccine shot.  Feeling as if I have no way to really treat this, I?ve done just that and toughed it out.   After taking Motrin and Tylenol #3, I  was able to periodically wrapped my arm to apply ice packs.  I was petrified that I might develop blisters and a nasty scar.  The burning finally subsided a week later.   The itching and swelling remained for another week or so, but then I started to notice some numbness in the area.  So, exactly  2 weeks, on May 13, 2021,from the  date I received the first Moderna shot  on April 29, 2021, I experienced severe itching and swelling, constant burning and skin peeling, really bad hives with a deep red-purplish-vainy  color, constant aching, and arm numbness from getting the Moderna vaccine.     On or around May 31, 2021,  I started putting Fluocinonode 0.05%, that I use for my eczema, on the area to help heal it.  Until this, I had only placed ice and soap and water on the area. The Flouocinonide has been working fine and did not further burned the area (like I was afraid it might).   I didn?t develop any blistering as I had feared -- nbut I am left with a really nasty scar that looks like a burn scar on my arm.  After such a horrible experience with the first shot, I will not be taking a second shot for fear that this could happen again, or something worst.   I thought I was approaching this whole thing smartly.  I assessed the risks and took every precaution I could.  I researched the science of this vaccine; singled out my greatest risk for side effects; got the necessary polyethylene testing to rule out my greatest risk for an adverse reaction; and based on my research and my test results, I felt I had done the due diligence required and was making an informed, logical decision to move forward with taking the vaccine -- and I still had a horrible reaction to the Moderna vaccine.  I toughed it out the last few weeks and thought I was in the clear, but on or around June 25, 2021, the area started to itch really bad again and with even more numbness than it I had in the beginning.   I have pictures if needed.