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Target Audience: All providers who administer influenza vaccines
Historically, patients with egg allergy have been told to avoid flu vaccines, because most flu vaccines are produced in embryonated chicken eggs; the concern was that a vaccine might contain residual egg protein, which could lead to anaphylaxis. Many studies have shown that flu vaccines are safe for egg-allergic patients, but many physicians still have been hesitant to vaccinate such patients. This updated practice parameter incorporates recent data on flu vaccine safety in egg-allergic patients, including children.
Flu vaccines should be administered annually to patients with egg allergy of any severity, with no need to ask recipients about egg-allergy status and no special precautions beyond those recommended for administering any vaccine to any patient. This recommendation applies to both injected and intranasal formulations (although the latter should not be used in the 2017−2018 flu season).
Non−egg-containing vaccines can be used but are not necessary or preferred over standard vaccines.
The intranasal live attenuated flu vaccine also might be used, if it's shown to be efficacious and is approved for use.
Greenhawt M et al. Administration of influenza vaccines to egg allergic recipients: A practice parameter update 2017. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2018 Jan; 120:49. (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anai.2017.10.020)
Comment
Egg-allergic patients can be vaccinated safely with any available age-appropriate flu vaccine, with no special precautions, regardless of egg-reaction history (including anaphylaxis). Concern for egg allergy only adds another barrier to universal flu vaccination, and this practice parameter concludes by stating the following: “Vaccine providers and screening questionnaires do not need to ask about the egg allergy status of recipients of influenza vaccine.”