Those with Egg Allergies can be Safely Vaccinated Against the Flu

Canadian researchers have released a new study in which they followed 367 egg-allergic people, mostly children, who have received a flu shot over the past five years.  Nearly 1/3 of these patients have experienced an anaphylatic episode after eating eggs.  This study reveals that  none of those patients,  have had a serious reaction to the flu vaccine. And only 13 of the 367 had mild "allergy-like" symptoms, like itchy skin or hives, within a day of the jab."This article is important because it provides additional data on the safety of influenza vaccine in children with a history of anaphylaxis to egg," said Dr. Lynda Schneider, director of the allergy program at Boston Children's Hospital. Dr. Snyder was not involved in the study but has researched the safety of the flu vaccine for egg-allergic child.Health experts recommend that children from age 6 months get an annual flu shot. Although the flu causes no more than a week or so of misery in most kids, children younger than 5 are at increased risk of flu complications like pneumonia, bronchitis and sinus infections.Egg allergy, meanwhile, affects about 1.5 percent of U.S. kids, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and this concern may be the reason many children have never received a flu shot.Egg-allergic children should be inoculated with the  flu vaccine  from a doctor that can recognize and treat a severe reaction.If you have any questions or concerns and live in the NYC area - please feel free to contact my office for a consultation. 866-632-5537.Read the entire article here