Allergy Vaccines: Category Overview, Products, and Evidence
Allergy vaccines (the term endorsed by the WHO 1998 position paper, PMID 9802362) comprise two delivery forms: SCIT injections (no brand name, custom-mixed 3-to-5-year course) and four FDA-approved SLIT tablets — Grastek (grass), Oralair (5-grass), Ragwitek (ragweed), Odactra (dust mite). Neither is a one-time shot. US practice prefers 'allergen immunotherapy' to avoid confusion with childhood vaccines.
5 peer-reviewed sources
Allergy vaccines = allergen immunotherapy. Two forms: SCIT injections (no brand, custom-mixed, 3–5 yr) and SLIT tablets with four brands — Grastek, Oralair, Ragwitek, Odactra. Not one-time like MMR or DTaP. WHO 1998 (PMID 9802362) endorsed 'allergen vaccine' terminology.
What Are Allergy Vaccines? The WHO 1998 Category and Its Two Product Forms
The term 'allergy vaccines' was formally endorsed by a 1998 WHO position paper authored by Jean Bousquet, Richard Lockey, and Hans-Jørgen Malling (J Allergy Clin Immunol 1998;102[4 Pt 1]:558-562, PMID 9802362), which used the phrase 'therapeutic vaccines for allergic diseases' to describe allergen immunotherapy products. The WHO authors argued that 'vaccine' accurately reflects the mechanism: these products modify the immune response rather than suppress symptoms, similar in principle — though very different in mechanism — to infectious-disease vaccines.
In current US clinical practice, 'allergen immunotherapy' is the preferred term rather than 'allergy vaccine,' specifically to prevent patients from expecting a one-time dose schedule. SCIT and SLIT both require a 3-to-5-year course — not the one-or-two-dose regimen of MMR, DTaP, or COVID-19 vaccines.
The allergy vaccine category has two product forms: (1) subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) — the injection-based course, no brand name, custom-mixed from FDA-licensed manufacturer starting material (Greer / Stallergenes Greer, ALK-Abelló, Hollister-Stier / Jubilant HollisterStier) per Cox 2011 PP3 (JACI 2011;127[1 Suppl]:S1-S55, DOI 10.1016/j.jaci.2010.09.034); and (2) sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) tablets — four FDA-approved brand-name products taken daily under the tongue.
Curex's allergy vaccine is the SCIT form delivered at home: a personalized serum sterile-compounded to USP <797> standards and matched to your IgE profile, self-administered as one weekly shot for $129/month, with a board-certified allergist overseeing the plan, an epinephrine auto-injector prescribed and confirmed on hand, and the first dose and every dose change supervised live over Zoom. Curex pairs at-home IgE testing with that allergist review to identify whether a patient's sensitization profile matches one of the four FDA-approved SLIT tablet brands or is suited to this at-home subcutaneous immunotherapy for the many unmatched allergens those four tablets do not cover.
Allergy vaccines = SCIT (no brand, injections, 3–5 yr) + SLIT tablets (Grastek/Oralair/Ragwitek/Odactra, daily, 3–5 yr). Not one-time. WHO 1998 PMID 9802362 endorsed the 'vaccine' terminology.
The Four FDA-Approved Allergy Vaccine Brand Names
All four SLIT tablet products require a boxed warning for anaphylaxis and a supervised first dose with an epinephrine auto-injector prescription. None are one-time doses.
Merck, under license from ALK-Abelló. FDA-approved SLIT tablet. Ages 5–65. Allergic rhinitis with or without conjunctivitis, with or without asthma. Initiated 4 months before grass season. First dose in medical office with 30-minute observation.
Stallergenes Greer. FDA-approved SLIT tablet. Ages 5–65. Contains Sweet Vernal (Anthoxanthum odoratum), Orchard (Dactylis glomerata), Perennial Rye (Lolium perenne), Timothy (Phleum pratense), Kentucky Blue (Poa pratensis). Pre-seasonal initiation. Broader grass coverage than Grastek.
Merck. FDA-approved SLIT tablet. Age 5+ (expanded 2021). Short ragweed only. Initiated 4 months before ragweed season (late summer / fall in eastern US).
Merck under license from ALK-Abelló. FDA-approved SLIT tablet. Ages 5–65 (February 2025 label revision). Perennial — no seasonal timing requirement. House dust mite allergy associated with year-round rhinitis and asthma.
Ready to skip the surprise bills?
See if at-home allergy shots fit your allergies — a 2-minute quiz, designed by board-certified allergists, with flat monthly pricing and no clinic visits.
- 4.8/5Patient rating
- $129/moFlat pricing
- 50K+Patients treated
- HSA/FSAEligible
Allergy Vaccine Course Duration: Not One-Time
The most important misconception 'allergy vaccine' searchers carry is that these products work like a childhood MMR: one or two doses, decades of protection. Allergen immunotherapy works through a fundamentally different mechanism — accumulation of regulatory T cell tolerance over repeated exposure — and requires years of continued treatment.
26–28 weekly injections at escalating doses. Each injection increases the allergen concentration delivered subcutaneously. ~39 total Year 1 visits between build-up and early maintenance per Cox 2011.
Injections every 2–4 weeks at the highest tolerated dose. Treg induction and IgG4 blocking antibody levels build over maintenance phase.
One tablet daily dissolved under tongue. No build-up phase in the physician's office. First dose supervised; subsequent doses self-administered at home.
After completing a full 3-year SCIT course, 3-year grass-pollen SCIT produced 4 additional symptom-free years post-discontinuation in the Durham 1999 RCT — the only randomized evidence of allergy vaccine post-treatment remission.
Allergy Vaccine Efficacy: Cochrane 2007 and Durham 1999 NEJM
The SCIT evidence base is the most comprehensive of any allergy vaccine form. SLIT tablet pivotal trials show smaller effect sizes relative to placebo.
Same proven results. No clinic visits.
Curex's at-home allergy shots deliver the same allergen desensitization as clinic SCIT — for a flat $129/month, with no clinic visits and no facility fees.
See if at-home shots are right for youAllergy Vaccines vs. Infectious-Disease Vaccines: Key Differences
The WHO 1998 'vaccine' terminology creates a common patient misconception. The table below clarifies the structural differences.
| Treatment | Efficacy | Duration | Cost (5yr) | Convenience | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Allergy vaccines (SCIT / SLIT) | |||||
Infectious-disease vaccines (MMR, DTaP, COVID-19, influenza) |
- Efficacy
- Duration
- Cost (5yr)
- Convenience
- Safety
- Efficacy
- Duration
- Cost (5yr)
- Convenience
- Safety
For sensitization patterns outside the four FDA-approved SLIT tablet products, Curex's allergy vaccine is at-home subcutaneous immunotherapy: a personalized SCIT serum sterile-compounded to USP <797> standards, matched to your IgE profile and self-administered as one weekly shot at home for $129/month. A board-certified allergist oversees the plan, an epinephrine auto-injector is prescribed and confirmed on hand before you begin, and your first dose and every dose change are supervised live over Zoom — covering cat dander, tree pollen, and mold that no branded tablet addresses.
See if at-home shots are right for youFrequently asked questions
Are allergy vaccines a real thing?
Yes. The 1998 WHO position paper endorsed 'allergen vaccine' as the category term for allergen immunotherapy (SCIT and SLIT). The products exist: SCIT (injectable, no brand name) and four FDA-approved SLIT tablet brands (Grastek, Oralair, Ragwitek, Odactra). US practice prefers 'allergen immunotherapy' today to avoid confusion with one-time childhood vaccines.
Is the allergy vaccine a one-time shot?
No. Both SCIT (injections) and SLIT tablets (sublingual) require a 3-to-5-year course. SCIT alone requires ~39 Year 1 clinic visits (26–28 weekly build-up injections + ~13 early-maintenance visits per Cox 2011 PP3). This is the opposite of a one-time MMR or DTaP vaccine.
What are the names of the allergy vaccine brands?
SCIT has no brand name — it's custom-mixed extract. The four SLIT tablet brands are Grastek (Timothy grass, Merck/ALK), Oralair (5-grass, Stallergenes Greer), Ragwitek (short ragweed, Merck), and Odactra (house dust mite, Merck/ALK).
Is an allergy vaccine the same as a flu shot?
No. The flu shot induces antibody-mediated immunity against a pathogen. Allergy vaccines (SCIT/SLIT) induce allergen-specific tolerance — regulatory T cells (Treg), blocking IgG4 antibodies — not antibody-mediated immunity. The mechanism, schedule, and clinical goal are different.
Do allergy vaccines work for cat dander or tree pollen?
SCIT (custom-mixed) covers cat dander, dog dander, tree pollens, molds, and all 19 FDA-standardized allergens. None of the four SLIT tablet brands cover these allergens — they are limited to grass (Grastek/Oralair), ragweed (Ragwitek), and house dust mite (Odactra).
What does the WHO 1998 position paper say about allergy vaccines?
Bousquet J, Lockey R, Malling HJ (JACI 1998;102:558-562, PMID 9802362) proposed the term 'allergen vaccines' and 'therapeutic vaccines for allergic diseases' to describe SCIT and SLIT. The paper argued that the mechanism (immune modification, not symptom suppression) justified vaccine terminology. US specialty practice today prefers 'immunotherapy' to avoid patient confusion with infectious-disease vaccine schedules.
Related Articles
Name of Allergy Shots: SCIT, CPT Codes & Brands | Curex
The clinical name for allergy shots is subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT), billed as CPT 95117. There is no branded SCIT product — extracts are custom-mixed from Greer, ALK, or HollisterStier.
Read moreAllergy Shots: The Complete Patient Guide to SCIT | Curex
Allergy shots (SCIT) are the only FDA-recognized disease-modifying allergy treatment. Learn who qualifies, how they work, and what alternatives exist.
Read moreAllergy Shots for Kids: PAT Study & Age Guide | Curex
Allergy shots from age 5. PAT study: 3 yrs SCIT halves asthma risk (OR 4.6). At-home SCIT via Curex for eligible pediatric families.
Read moreAllergy Shots for Humans | Curex Complete SCIT Guide
Yes — allergy shots for humans exist. SCIT has Cochrane SMD −0.73, 51 RCTs, and 1 fatality per 23.3M visits. Not Cytopoint. Not Apoquel. Full guide with pet-allergen disambiguation.
Read moreAllergy Injection for Humans: SCIT vs Cytopoint vs Apoquel | Curex
Allergy injection for humans means SCIT (CPT 95117) — not Cytopoint for dogs or vet ASIT for pets. Human and veterinary allergy injections are separate products, codes, and insurance systems.
Read moreAllergy Shots Name: SCIT Class Defined | Curex
The class name for allergy shots is subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT). No single brand name exists. Learn how SCIT extracts are named by source, unit labels, and how that differs from branded biologics.
Read moreGet your allergy shots — without the clinic.
Curex's flat $129/month covers end-to-end at-home immunotherapy — a personalized serum compounded to USP <797> sterile standards, board-certified allergist oversight, and one weekly injection you give yourself at home. No clinic visits, no facility fees. HSA/FSA eligible.
$129/mo flat · No facility fees · HSA/FSA eligible · Cancel anytime
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider with questions about a medical condition. Content reviewed by board-certified allergists at Curex.