Flu Vaccine Does not Pose Risk to Children with Egg Allergies

Parents of children with egg allergies can now have their children vaccinated against the flu without worrying about the impact. According to a new study, flu vaccine does not pose any risk to children with egg allergies, even to anaphylaxis patients.

The safety of flu vaccine, often containing egg protein, has been a concern among parents of children with egg allergies. According to health experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it is mandatory for children as young as six months to get a flu vaccine as a protection against the deadly disease. However, CDC recommends parents not to administer seasonal influenza vaccine for children allergic to egg.

Nearly 1.6 percent of children in the country are affected with egg allergy, according to an estimate from the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI).

Matthew Greenhawt and colleagues from the University of Michigan proved the safety of the vaccine on a group of children with egg allergies. All the participants with egg allergies received influenza vaccine, and none reported experiencing any severe side effects, including allergic reaction to the vaccine.

"The flu vaccine is grown in embryonated chicken eggs and contains residual amounts of ovalbumin, a major egg allergen. This has historically raised concern about the safety of the vaccine in children with egg allergies," Greenhawt said in a news release. "But this study shows these children, all of whom either had anaphylaxis or a severe allergic reaction from egg, can tolerate the vaccine. That's important because we know it's crucial that children get a vaccine to avoid the flu, especially this year as we've seen such an increase in cases and severity. The benefits outweigh the risks."

However, the researchers recommend keeping the children under medical observation for at least 30 minutes after the vaccination to ensure safety.

Findings of the study have been published in Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.