I spoke with our allergist over Christmas break, and he reassured me that it is safe for Fussy Buns to get the flu shot. I’ve been so worried about her experiencing anaphylaxis if egg is injected into her body, but he pointed out that she has already been exposed to egg protein through my breast milk. She has many symptoms from food allergies, but trouble breathing has never been one of them.
I’m the type of person that likes to ask questions and research in order to feel more comfortable, so my husband and I spent a long time reading through the CDC’s website to learn about why the influenza vaccine is recommended, even for egg allergy patients. We read about several studies done on egg allergy patients, including children, receiving the flu shot and the statistics of it resulting in anaphylaxis or death. I recommend taking a look at this information if you are concerned.
Given the fact that the flu is more prevalent this year than in previous years, we decided to go ahead with it. The allergist told me there was no need for us to come to his office to administer the vaccine; we could go to the Nurse Treatment Room at Kaiser.
I marked “egg allergy” on the form we had to fill out and when we were called into the room, the nurse immediately told us she could not administer the flu shot to an egg allergy patient according to their policy.
I explained that the CDC updated their recommendations for vaccinating egg allergy patients in 2011, but she would not budge. I was so frustrated that I was once again receiving different information from different providers, but all I could do was ask that she communicate that with our pediatrician and allergist. I got my flu shot and left.
Right away, I contacted our allergist, and he told me again that is indeed safe for her to receive the vaccine. He said he had never had a problem with this before, but would arrange for us to come to the allergy department to receive it.
Now that I’ve done my research and advocated for my daughter to get vaccinated, I hope she won’t have a terrible reaction to it.
According to the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Report:
“Vaccination of all persons aged ≥6 months continues to be recommended. Information is presented in this report regarding vaccine strains for the 2011–12 influenza season, the vaccination schedule for children aged 6 months through 8 years, and considerations regarding vaccination of persons with egg allergy.”
Recommendations Regarding Persons with Egg Allergy
Each of the following recommendations applies when considering influenza vaccination of persons who have or report a history of egg allergy.
1. Persons who have experienced only hives following exposure to egg should receive influenza vaccine with the following additional measures (Figure 2):
a) Because studies published to date involved use of TIV, TIV rather than LAIV should be used.
b) Vaccine should be administered by a health-care provider who is familiar with the potential manifestations of egg allergy.
c) Vaccine recipients should be observed for at least 30 minutes for signs of a reaction following administration of each vaccine dose.
Other measures, such as dividing and administering the vaccine by a two-step approach and skin testing with vaccine, are not necessary.
2. Persons who report having had reactions to egg involving angioedema, respiratory distress, lightheadedness, or recurrent emesis, or persons who required epinephrine or other emergency medical intervention, particularly those that occurred immediately or within minutes to hours after egg exposure are more likely to have a serious systemic or anaphylactic reaction upon reexposure to egg proteins. Before receipt of vaccine, such persons should be referred to a physician with expertise in the management of allergic conditions for further risk assessment (Figure 2).
3. All vaccines should be administered in settings in which personnel and equipment for rapid recognition and treatment of anaphylaxis are available. ACIP recommends that all vaccination providers be familiar with the office emergency plan (18).
4. Some persons who report allergy to egg might not be egg allergic. Those who are able to eat lightly cooked egg (e.g., scrambled eggs) without reaction are unlikely to be allergic. Conversely, egg-allergic persons might tolerate egg in baked products (e.g., bread or cake); tolerance to egg-containing foods does not exclude the possibility of egg allergy (35). Egg allergy can be confirmed by a consistent medical history of adverse reactions to eggs and egg-containing foods, plus skin and/or blood testing for immunoglobulin E antibodies to egg proteins.
5. A previous severe allergic reaction to influenza vaccine, regardless of the component suspected to be responsible for the reaction, is a contraindication to receipt of influenza vaccine.
Fussy Buns 