Although allergen injection immunotherapy (AII) has been around for nearly a century, many doctors are still not aware of the evidence for its efficacy. About 15 000 patients are treated by AII in Australia each year, with about 300 000 injections administered annually for a wide range of allergens. The 10 most commonly prescribed allergen vaccines in Australia are house dust mite; five-grass pollen mix; 12-grass pollen mix; cat; couch grass, ryegrass and plantain pollens; Alternaria mould; cockroach; and olive/privet pollen. Patients receive regular subcutaneous doses of the allergens to which they are allergic, often for 3–5 years.1 Does the treatment work, and, if so, is it cost-effective and is it safe?
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Data on the allergen vaccines were kindly supplied by Ms Jennie Hillas of EBOS Group Pty Ltd, Australian distributors of Stallergenes vaccines.