It's common knowledge that an annual flu vaccination is recommended for everyone, yet individuals with egg allergies have historically faced challenges. Instead of simply visiting a local pharmacy or clinic, they needed to schedule a visit with an allergist to receive a specially formulated vaccine. However, recent research and updated recommendations from the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology indicate this is no longer necessary.
A study released on December 19 in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology concluded that the influenza vaccine poses no danger to people with egg allergies and advised that they should be vaccinated.
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Allergist Dr. Matthew Greenhawt, who chairs the association's food allergy committee and led the new guideline development, stated, "Healthcare providers typically inquire about egg allergies before administering a flu vaccine. However, we want both providers and patients to understand that such questioning is no longer necessary, nor are any special measures required. Research accumulated since 2011 clearly indicates that the flu shot carries no elevated risk for individuals with egg allergies compared to those without."
To arrive at this determination, the organization analyzed numerous studies encompassing thousands of egg-allergic patients who had received the flu vaccine without experiencing adverse reactions—among them hundreds with severe, life-threatening egg allergies. These conclusions align with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics, both of which stress the safety and necessity of annual flu shots for all individuals, including those with egg allergies.
Specifically, these health bodies determined that the dangers of influenza—which can be fatal for some—far exceed any theoretical risks, particularly given the absence of documented cases of egg-allergic individuals suffering severe reactions from the flu vaccine.
Allergist Dr. John Kelso, a member of the allergy association and co-author of the updated guidelines, stated, "Each year, hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations and tens of thousands of deaths in the U.S. result from the flu, the majority of which could be avoided through vaccination. Egg allergy is most common in young children, who are also highly susceptible to influenza. It is critical that we promote flu shots for everyone, especially children with egg allergies."
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What prompted the initial advice for egg-allergic individuals to avoid the flu shot? According to Dr. Randy Bergen, a pediatrician and infectious disease specialist at Kaiser Permanente Walnut Creek Medical Center who also leads the Kaiser Permanente flu vaccine program in Northern California, the reason lies in the fact that most viral strains used to manufacture influenza vaccines are primarily derived from birds.
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