MedPage Today reported, “Having an egg allergy is no longer a contraindication to influenza vaccination, according to new guidance for the upcoming flu season from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.” Under the new ACIP recommendation, “individuals with a history of allergic reactions to eating egg can receive the vaccine, with certain conditions.”
Included in the newest recommendations for vaccination in the presence of egg allergy:
As the studies conducted to date among egg-allergic individuals have all involved the inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV), that should be used instead of the live-attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV), according to the ACIP.
In addition, egg-allergic individuals should receive the vaccine from a healthcare provider who is familiar with egg allergy and should be observed for 30 minutes after administration to look for signs of a reaction.
Overall, egg allergy occurs in no more than 1% of young children, and the vast majority will outgrow it before starting school.
In the 17 published studies on the topic, none of the more than 2,600 patients with confirmed egg allergy had a serious reaction to influenza vaccination. That included about 200 patients with severe egg allergy.
Only a small percentage of patients had mild reactions, such as hives or wheezing.