QUINCY, MA: The New England Food Allergy Treatment Center (NEFATC), based in West Hartford CT, has opened a new location in Quincy, MA, to treat patients with potentially severe food allergies.  NEFATC-West Hartford, in operation for nearly a decade, successfully desensitizes patients to common food allergens using an exciting process called oral immunotherapy (OIT).

The Quincy location was opened to address the needs of people in the Boston area and beyond.

The Center in Quincy is led by Margaret Vallen, MD as well as John Johnson MD and Jeffrey M Factor MD, the Medical Director of the West Hartford Center.  The state of the art Center, located at 700 Congress Street in Quincy, employs full time registered nurses as well as has 10 examination rooms to meet the needs of patients. The Center treats patients from age 2 and older.   Its mission is to help desensitize children with potentially life-threatening food allergies, with a goal of providing a better quality of life for patients and their families.

According to Dr. Vallen, the program requires a commitment of up to a year.  With careful monitoring, patients visit the Center every two weeks until the maintenance dose is reached. Daily doses are consumed at home with a physician on call 24/7 should a question arise.  At its conclusion, patients with peanut allergy will be able to consume at least 4 peanut M & Ms daily or, for those with other food allergies, apredetermined amount of tree nuts, sesame, milk or egg.

While OIT does not cure the patient of his/her allergies, in the event of an accidental exposure an allergic reaction will not likely occur. This in turn should result in less worry, fear, and anxiety, and lead to an improved quality of life. The dosing of food allergens is done orally. No uncomfortable shots are involved in the treatment.

“The Center is very child and family friendly,” said Dr. Vallen, who added, “We are so excited about the work we are doing here. We invite the community to come and learn more about us.”