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Updated March 07, 2014.

While everyone with asthma would benefit from a flu shot, the combination of a flu shot and egg allergy made many health care providers nervous in the past. Recommendations published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology  say that it is safe for children to receive a flu shot without going through any special precautions when they have an egg allergy.

Current CDC Recommendations

 Currently if you want a flu shot and have an egg allergy, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends that your child is observed for 30 minutes after a flu shot.

The advisory committee also suggests that you have the shot in a doctors office or health care facility rather than going to a pharmacy or health fair that might not be able to handle any sort of allergic reaction if your child has experienced hives when eating eggs. If your child has experienced a more serious reaction, getting the flu shot in an allergist's office is recommended.

Changes in In Practice With Flu Shot and Egg Allergy

Every year children do not receive a flu shot because most health care providers ask a question about egg allergy or parents search for some information on the internet and are frightened something bad will happen to their child. However, many children with some form of egg allergy have received flu vaccination safely.

“In a large number of research studies published over the last several years, thousands of egg allergic children, including those with a severe life-threatening reaction to eating eggs, have received injectable influenza vaccine as a single dose without a reaction” according John Kelso, MD, fellow of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), in a press release.

“The benefits of the flu vaccination far outweigh any risk,” said Dr. Kelso. “As with any vaccine, all personnel and facilities administering flu shots should have procedures in place for the rare instance of anaphylaxis, a severe life-threatening allergic reaction."

The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology/ ACAAI Joint Task Force on Practice Parameters does not believe that special precautions or extended monitoring following vaccination are necessary.

Why Is This Thought To Be Safe Now?

Why is a flu shot and egg allergy thought to be safe? Basically flu shots have such a small amount of egg protein that it will not result in a severe allergic reaction.

Egg allergy is really common in children and is the most common food allergy in infants and kids with eczema. More than two thirds of kids with egg allergy will outgrow it. If you never get a flu shot because of an egg allergy as a child you are probably putting your child at greater risk.

More than 20,000 hospitalizations per year occur in children under age 5. However, two thirds of these children do not receive a flu vaccine. Some of the patients likely have egg allergy and a hospitalization might have been prevented.

If you have concerns about a flu shot and egg allergy, you should talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits for your asthma.

Sources

1. John M. Kelso, Matthew J. Greenhawt, James T. Li, The Joint Task Force on Practice Parameters. Update on influenza vaccination of egg allergic patients. Accessed October 4, 2013.
2. Greenhawt MJ, Spergel JM, Rank MA, Green TD, Masnoor D, Sharma H, Bird JA, Chang JE, Parikh DS, Teich E, Kelso JM, Sanders GM. Safe administration of the seasonal trivalent influenza vaccine to children with severe egg allergy. Accessed October 4, 2013.
3. Egg Allergic Children Now Have no Barriers to Flu Shot. Press release from American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI). Accessed October 4, 2013.